North Wake News

Governor Josh Stein has issued a reminder for residents of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene to be mindful of upcoming federal assistance deadlines. This call aims to ensure that individuals and small businesses have the necessary resources for recovery.

“As folks across western North Carolina continue to rebuild their lives and businesses after Hurricane Helene, it’s important to know what resources are available to support recovery,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Thousands of western North Carolinians have already taken advantage of these federal resources, but there is still time to apply. I encourage everyone to get the assistance they need from these programs.”

The relevant deadlines include:

- March 8, 2025: Deadline for FEMA Individual Assistance applications. Survivors can apply online at disasterassistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362, or via the FEMA app. Assistance may cover housing solutions, hotel cost reimbursements, primary residence repairs, privately-owned access routes, and other disaster-related expenses.

- March 10, 2025: Extended deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) for people in 39 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The extension aligns with FEMA's deadlines and allows continued temporary financial support through the Division of Employment Security.

- March 29, 2025: Expiration date for DUA benefits.

- April 27, 2025: SBA extends the physical damage loan deadline due to a federal funding lapse in 2024. For more information on SBA disaster assistance, applicants can contact the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or use telecommunications relay services if needed.

- June 30, 2025: Deadline for returning economic injury applications to the SBA.

Residents are encouraged to visit a Disaster Recovery Center or go online for application processes and additional information.