How to apply for federal aid after Helene

As Hurricane Helene ripped through Asheville, the floodwaters created in its wake were swift in their destruction.

In addition to the many homes completely destroyed during Helene, dozens of local small businesses were devastated by floodwaters — some will take weeks or months to recover, while others may never open their doors again.

In this time of dire need, federal aid is available, though it can sometimes be difficult to locate and apply for the exact type of aid that you need.

Whether you’ve lost your business or your home to Helene, here’s how to apply for federal aid.

Where can hurricane victims apply for aid?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is currently offering federal assistance to victims of Helene. To apply online, visit disasterassistance.gov and click Get Started. Simply enter your ZIP code, city and state, and the site will guide you through the application process.

If you’re unable to connect to the internet, apply over the phone by calling 800-621-3362 to reach the FEMA helpline.

If you have insurance, remember to file a claim as soon as possible — FEMA can only provide money after you receive your insurance settlement. If you do not have insurance, FEMA can still either inspect the property or ask for verification of expenses. Always take photos of the damage before you clean up your property.

Where can small business owners apply for aid?

Small business owners have a few avenues to apply for federal aid.

The primary avenue for relief is through a U.S. Small Business Administration loan. This requires a MySBA account which you can register for at lending.sba.gov. Once logged in, the application will give business owners two options.

• The Business Physical Disaster Loan is “to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment.”
• The Economic Injury Disaster Loan is a capital loan that helps small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private, non-profit organizations “meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster.”

The deadline for a physical damage application is Nov. 27, 2024, and June 30, 2025 for an economic injury filing. If you do not have internet access, call 800‐659‐2955 for help with applying.

Additionally, many more loans specific to certain business types are available at disasterassistance.gov. Choose Get Assistance at the top left, then Forms of Assistance. Under category types, check Disaster Relief to look through 29 additional types of loans and find what best applies to your situation.

What happens next?

FEMA will determine if an inspection is needed and send a decision soon after. If FEMA denies your application, a guide on submitting an appeal can be found here.

For a guide on what to expect post-application, visit FEMA’s website.

Where can I apply for unemployment benefits?

If you lost your job as a result of Helene and are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits, you may qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) through FEMA.

As of October 1, DUA is available for 25 counties in Western North Carolina as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. To file a claim, you must first create a MyNCUIBenefits account. Select “I am an individual/claimant”, enter your social security number, a username, email and password. When asked to give a reason for unemployment, be sure to select “a federally declared disaster”.

The deadline for hurricane victims to apply for DUA in North Carolina is Dec. 2.

Jacob Wilt is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal. You can reach him atjacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com.