FEMA grants another deadline extension for disaster aid in North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a move that should provide additional relief to thousands of North Carolinian organizations still recovering from Hurricane Helene, FEMA granted North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein’s request for a 30-day extension to apply for state, tribal, and local governments, as well as nonprofit organizations. 

Last week, the governor’s office extended the deadline for individuals. The previous deadline for both was Saturday, but now, the new deadline is April 7, 2025.

“I am grateful to FEMA and the Trump Administration for granting our request to extend the deadline to apply for this critical program,” Stein writes in a statement. “Communities across North Carolina are in need of increased federal resources to remove debris and restore public facilities, and public assistance grants have been critical to their local recovery. I encourage city and county governments and non-profits to seize the moment and apply for these grants.”

The extension for individuals applies to residents in 39 counties and the eastern band of Cherokee Indians who suffered uninsured losses from Helene. These areas include: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey counties.

While the extension is welcome news, Stein emphasized more assistance is needed. In February, he requested an additional $19 billion in federal funds to restore infrastructure, support home repair and renovation and reduce impacts from future natural disasters.

“We continue to seek adequate funding from Congress and the General Assembly for the ongoing recovery efforts,” Stein explained. “The people of western North Carolina need more federal support to build back stronger.”

Stein encouraged North Carolinians to participate in the finalization of an Action Plan for distributing $1.4 billion already awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Officials recommend several ways for affected residents to apply for FEMA assistance:

1. Visit a Disaster Recovery Center in your community (locations can be found at fema.gov/drc).
2. Call the FEMA hotline at 1-800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and midnight.
3. Apply online at disasterassistance.gov

Insured North Carolinians are encouraged to file claims with their insurance companies first, though they don’t need to wait for settlements before applying for FEMA assistance. FEMA may provide financial assistance to eligible survivors who are uninsured or underinsured.

For those who have been denied FEMA assistance, appeals can be submitted by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center, calling 1-800-621-3362, or online at disasterassistance.gov. Legal aid is also available at https://legalaidnc.org/project/disaster-relief-project/.

The North Carolina Disaster Case Management Program (NC-DCM) continues to provide support, currently assisting over 2,700 cases and having taken over 8,500 calls since December. With over 500 resources and partnerships available, NC-DCM case managers can help find solutions for individual disaster survivor needs.

Residents seeking assistance or resources can call NC-DCM at 1-844-746-2326 or visit ncdps.gov/Helene/dcm.