Federal aid is the hot topic of town in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s destruction in the southeastern United States at the end of September 2024. However, amidst downed houses and power lines, misinformation about the type and amount of aid to be distributed to people affected has spread like wildfire. One rumor gaining speed is that FEMA will only pay victims a direct payment of $750. While this number is somewhat true, it shows only part of the entire scope of disaster relief opportunities.
Hurricane Helene summary
On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene struck Florida as a Category 4 hurricane and battered several other states, including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. There were over 230 deaths, and the storm caused catastrophic loss of life and property damage throughout. In response to this disaster, President Biden declared Major Disaster Declarations for each of these states, making their residents eligible for many types of federal assistance.
The $750 direct payment explained
The talk of a $750 payment, in many discourses, refers to the Serious Needs Assistance under FEMA. This category of assistance has to do with direct financial assistance to survivors of disasters, mainly for immediate needs like food, water, and baby formula, and also medication, after disasters strike. What is important to note, though, is that not all the assistance stops at that level of payment.
FEMA’s Serious Needs Assistance is designed to serve as an initial form of assistance to survivors while their needs and eligibility for other forms of assistance are being assessed. This provides the survivors with an upfront payment that assists in more immediate needs.
Additional FEMA assistance programs
While the $750 Serious Needs Assistance provides immediate assistance, numerous other forms of assistance may be offered through FEMA to aid those affected by Hurricane Helene:
Displacement Assistance: This type of funding assists those people who cannot return to their homes due to hurricane damage. It provides temporary housing, including hotel stays or arrangements with family and friends.
Housing Assistance: The category provides funding for home repairs and rebuilding. Homeowners receive subventions to repair the structural parts of their houses or to replace the basic appliances in a home lost during the storm.
Personal Property Assistance: Homeowners might be eligible for money to replace or repair personal property damaged by the hurricane, such as furniture, computers required for work or school, and other essential items.
Medical/Dental Assistance: If medical expenses were incurred due to injuries related to the hurricane or necessary medical equipment was lost during the disaster, it may be reimbursable.
These programs, combined, ensure that the relief granted to the disaster recoveries does not stop at the initial $750 payment.
Rumors and myth dispelling
There have been a number of rumors regarding FEMA’s funding ability and what takes funding priority during the recoveries. The claims have been that FEMA is taking money away from America’s citizens in order to provide for undocumented immigrants or foreign aid. These claims have been proven false through numerous sources.
FEMA has been clear that it has sufficient funding for immediate response and recovery needs related to Hurricane Helene. FEMA recently received an additional appropriation of $20 billion approved by Congress for disaster relief efforts. Claims of FEMA running out of money are misrepresentations of the truth; FEMA remains capable of carrying out its duties within its means and addressing hurricane survivors’ needs.
Another thing to keep in mind is that even while some federal programs provide money for migrants looking for shelter and services, those dollars come from a different pool than disaster relief dollars, which means that money has no bearing on what might be available to help U.S. citizens affected by the hurricanes.
How to apply for FEMA assistance
Those who suffered under the storm of Hurricane Helene can apply for assistance in a variety of ways:
- Online: Go to DisasterAssistance.gov and fill out an application.
- Mobile App: Application tools and updates are easily accessible on smartphones by downloading the FEMA app.
- Phone: To apply or for eligibility questions, call FEMA’s toll-free number at 800-621-3362.
The last day to apply for assistance due to Hurricane Helene is November 27, 2024, and survivors should not wait until then.
Read more: FEMA disaster relief in Hurricane Helene disaster area: who is eligible, how to qualify, what are the benefits and where to applyRead more: Trump releases a line of watches, the Trump Watches, with skyrocketing prices – The most expensive edition has only 147 pieces and costs $100,000
