Hurricane Helene | USAGov (2024)

Financial assistance

• You may qualify for FEMA assistance if you live in a presidentially declared disaster area impacted by Hurricane Helene. You can apply:
  • Online by visiting disasterassistance.gov.
  • By calling 1-800-621-3362.
  • Through the FEMA App.
• Learn about other types of disaster financial assistance. You could get unemployment benefits, help buying groceries, and more.
• Find out if you are eligible for an SBA Disaster Loan. These low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration can help homeowners, small businesses, and non-profits recover from a declared disaster.
• If you have a flood insurance policy, learn how to file a flood insurance claim.

Disaster recovery

• Get the latest Hurricane Helene information from FEMA, including post-storm safety tips and links to local information for those in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
• Voluntary organizations are providing free disaster clean up services, such tarping roofs, clearing fallen trees, and mold remediation. Call the Crisis Cleanup hotline at 1-844-965-1386 to request assistance (currently open through October 11).
• Find out how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and get guidance for dealing with flooding, mold, debris, and more.

Finding loved ones

• The Red Cross is providing assistance with finding friends and family impacted by the storm.
• Missing children should be reported to 9-1-1. You can then contact 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
• Tennessee: You can report missing persons in the areas affected by recent flooding to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation hotline at 1-800-824-3463.

Food assistance

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced temporary changes to food programs in response to Hurricane Helene. Changes vary by state (see the FNS disaster assistance page for links to state-specific information), but may include:

• Extended timelines for SNAP recipients to report the loss of food due to power outages.
• Allowing SNAP benefits to be used to purchase hot foods.
• Flexibility for child nutrition programs to change how and when meals are served and what food items make up a meal. Parents may also be allowed to pick up food.

Health

• Prescription assistance - Uninsured North Carolina and Tennessee residents in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene can replace their 30-day supply of certain prescription medications, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies from any pharmacy that participates in the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program. For help enrolling in the program, call1-855-793-7470(TDD1-800-876-1089).
• Mental health - Call or text theDisaster Distress Helplineat1-800-985-5990. The national hotline provides free 24/7, crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing ASL callers can use a videophone orASL Now.
• Find disaster information from TRICARE. And learn about temporary prescription refill waivers for beneficiaries in states and counties affected by Hurricane Helene. Get details for:
  • Alabama beneficiaries
  • Georgia beneficiaries
  • Florida beneficiaries
  • Kentucky beneficiaries
  • North Carolina beneficiaries
  • South Carolina beneficiaries
  • Tennessee beneficiaries
  • Virginia beneficiaries
  • West Virginia beneficiaries
• Check military hospital and clinic websites in areas affected by Hurricane Helene for closures and other important information.
  • Eisenhower Army Medical Center
  • Moody Air Force Base
• Read about the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response's work following Hurricane Helene, including how health and disaster personnel and supplies are serving affected areas in North Carolina.

Immigration enforcement

During Hurricane Helene, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will not conduct immigration enforcement activities at protected areas including:

• Along evacuation routes
• Sites used for sheltering
• Distribution sites for emergency supplies, food, or water
• Registration sites for disaster-related assistance or reuniting families and loved ones.

Communications

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is monitoring theareas impacted by Hurricane Idalia and offers guidance for communicating during and after anemergency.

Weather, maps, and data tools

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hurricane Helene page features forecasts, maps, imagery, and more. And hurricanes.gov/#helene from NOAA's National Hurricane Center offers additional maps and advisories.
• The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shares real-time and interactive data related to Hurricane Helene.

Agriculture and food safety

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers food safety guidance, tips for protecting pets and livestock, and risk management and disaster assistance options for agricultural producers following a disaster.
• The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) shares Hurricane Helene updates.

Banking and consumer information

• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) shares information for banks and consumers in areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Learn about recovering financially from a disaster, avoiding disaster-related scams, and more.
• The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is monitoring the impact of Hurricane Helene on investors and capital markets.

Government agency closures

• Visit the website of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida for information on Hurricane Helene-related office closures.
• Find out about Hurricane Helene closures for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia.

Images and videos

• Find a photo collection of FEMA's response to Hurricane Helene from the DHS Media Library.
• Get videos, images, and stories from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) of the military and federal response to Hurricane Helene.

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