Resources and Plans

Homeowners: Receive money for hurricane recovery

A program from Rebuild NC aims to help eligible homeowners recover from damages of Hurricane Florence and Matthew. Click here to complete your online application. If an award is approved, Rebuild NC will even assign a contractor to do the job.

Hurricane guidance

The North Carolina Department of Commerce is committed to assisting communities and towns in their recoveries from hurricanes. Links to programs, grants and other information for assistance are provided here.

  • Contracting guidance for local governments on declared natural disasters from FEMA: https://unc.live/2N8juE7
  • The latest FEMA information: Click here for who to contact in your county, disaster recovery center details, deadlines, volunteer sites, resources and recovery statistics. For long-term individual assistance, click here.
  • In the wake of Hurricane Florence, you may be able to receive health assistance. Click here for more information.
  • Did you become unemployed as a result of a natural disaster? Workers or business owners meeting the following criteria may be eligible for benefits:
  1. Individuals who are unemployed due to the disaster, and do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits.
  2. Self-employed individuals and small business owners who lost income due to the disaster.
  3. Individuals who were prevented from working due to an injury caused by the disaster.
  4. Individuals who have become the major supplier of household income due to the disaster-related death of the previous major supplier of household income.
  5. Individuals who are unable to reach their jobs or self-employment locations, because they must travel through the affected area and are prevented from doing so by the disaster.
  6. Individuals who were to commence employment or self-employment, but were prevented from doing so by the disaster.

Click here for information on Disaster Unemployment Assistance from the state of North Carolina.

Click here for EFC @ UNC's presentation on financing water and wastewater systems. 

The UNC School of Government has created a microsite dedicated to Emergency Management here with a range of valuable information on disaster recovery resources for local governments.

After the storm

Download the North Carolina disaster recovery guide here.

Thread Capital and the NC Rural Center are ready to deliver services to support affected North Carolina businesses and farms. Thread Capital will be accepting loan applications for six-month interest-free loans beginning next week. Loan amounts will be up to $50,000 based on the size of the business, and are intended to bridge the timing gap until insurance and SBA loan funds are received. Additional information on this loan option is available here. 

More resources available for business owners and farmers:


Residential Preparedness

There’s no bigger headache than dealing with household repairs and maintenance following a disaster. Considering the time, as well as costs associated with getting your residence looking and functioning properly, establishing a pre, during, and post disaster plan can save you and your loved ones a world of stress. To download a flyer on how you can be prepared at home, click here.

Business Preparedness

Your business shouldn’t have to suffer because of a disaster – being proactive in planning can prove to be a wise investment, should an incident occur. Learn how to effectively promote business continuity through disaster preparedness activities before disaster strikes.


Rebuild NC

Rebuild NC, North Carolina’s official disaster recovery initiative, has been a crusader in redevelopment efforts following the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in October of 2016. The organization also serves as an excellent resource for disaster preparedness, as well as promoting business and residential resiliency.

In early 2017, Rebuild NC undertook a planning exercise to develop plans for each of the communities that Hurricane Matthew impacted. These plans outline storm impacts and specific strategies in four areas – housing, economic development, infrastructure and environment.

Strategies for Economic Recovery

For information regarding North Carolina’s strategies for economic recovery following Hurricane Matthew, please click here.

EDA

To learn more about the EDA’s leadership, tools, and resources to restoring communities that have faced a natural disaster, please refer here.

FEMA

Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA) provides national assistance to communities and states affected by disasters, including those affected by Hurricane Matthew  Hurricane Dorian, Tropical Storm Michael, and Hurricane Florence. Find up-to-date information on current disaster recovery efforts.

Disaster Assistance

  • If you live within the SEDC service area and are in need of assistance in recovering from Hurricane Matthew, please refer to the resources linked in the Rebuild NC above.
  • SEDC Service Areas: 
    • Bladen
    • Brunswick
    • Columbus
    • Cumberland
    • Harnett
    • Hoke
    • New Hanover
    • Pender
    • Richmond
    • Robeson
    • Sampson
    • Scotland

Water / Wastewater Agency Response Network

  • This agency provides access to a network of utilities helping other utilities in responding to and recovering from disasters

 

Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund

  • The SSCF provides grants for policies, plans, or programs that create sustainable energy and/or water initiatives. 
  • Approximately $75,000-$100,000