Inch of water in a home could cost $25,000 to fix. What if you don't have flood insurance?

Hurricane Helene left a wide wake of devastation across the southeast over the weekend and millions of people without power . Some of those people, like those who survived the storm in Western North Carolina, have no way of knowing when power and running water will be restored, as the damage and loss of life Helene left behind is still being assessed.

Once water recedes and help can get to those who need it, there’s anticipated to be billions (if not, tens-of-billions) of dollars paid out in insurance claims across the areas the storm impacted most. But what if you don’t have flood insurance?

If your home flooded and you’re caught without flood insurance, there are still options for you to get financial assistance to help repair the damages. Here’s a quick breakdown of what your options are if your home flooded and wasn't covered by flood insurance and which North Carolina counties can now apply for individual assistance from FEMA.

How does FEMA work? What happens if my home floods and I don't have flood insurance?

Just one inch of water in your home could cost up to $25,000 or more to repair, which means that most of the flooding damage from Helene will cost much more.

Homeowners who don't have flood insurance have the option to apply for federal disaster assistance through a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration. But unlike payouts from insurance claims, the federal disaster assistance loans have to be paid back.

FEMA also offers grants and disaster awards through programs like its Individuals and Households Program and its Transitional Sheltering Assistance .

FEMA has declared a state of major disaster for counties in four states : North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Vermont.

Once power and internet access is restored and you’ve assessed damages to your home and property, residents of areas that are under a state of major disaster can apply for individual assistance through FEMA.

"FEMA assistance in Florida and North Carolina may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies," FEMA said in a Sept. 29 statement on Helene.

"Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay."

FEMA disaster declarations in North Carolina

Here are the North Carolina counties that are eligible for individual assistance in the aftermath of Helene, according to FEMA’s website on Sept. 30:

1. Alexander
2. Alleghany
3. Ashe
4. Avery
5. Buncombe
6. Burke
7. Caldwell
8. Catawba
9. Clay
10. Cleveland
11. Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina
12. Gaston
13. Haywood
14. Henderson
15. Jackson
16. Lincoln
17. Macon
18. Madison
19. McDowell
20. Mitchell
21. Polk
22. Rutherford
23. Transylvania
24. Watauga
25. Wilkes
26. Yancey

How are people getting $700 from FEMA? How to use FEMA hotel vouchers

If your home has been flooded or sustained damage that makes it uninhabitable and you have no funds for a short-term rental or hotel, FEMA provides assistance through its Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program and also has hotel vouchers available to those who need it.

You can apply for disaster assistance but when it comes to hotel vouchers, FEMA decides who's eligible.

Here’s the difference between FEMA’s IHP and TSA relief programs and what each of them do, according to its website:

• Individuals and Households Program (IHP): “Provides financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs. IHP assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet your basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts .”
• Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA): “A FEMA program that must be requested by a state. It allows for temporary, short-term accommodations for eligible survivors when other housing options are not available after a presidentially declared disaster .”

To be eligible for TSA : you must first apply for assistance with FEMA , pass FEMA’s identity verification, have a pre-disaster primary residence in a designated Parish for TSA, have verified occupancy, be displaced from and unable to live in their pre-disaster residence. Once you have a FEMA registration number, you can use it to book a hotel with the steps outlined on FEMA's website here.

If you need immediate funds to pay for necessities, you may be eligible for a one-time immediate payment of $700 for Critical Needs Assistance.

“Critical Needs Assistance is typically approved quickly because it is meant to help with immediate needs like water, food, and fuel,” FEMA’s website says.

“Examples of other types of assistance include help with a temporary place to stay, funding home repairs, and emergency needs that insurance and other financial assistance sources may not cover.”

Here's what you'll need when applying for any kind of assistance through FEMA's programs:

• A current phone number where you can be contacted.
• Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying.
• Your Social Security number.
• A general list of damage and losses.
• Banking information if you choose direct deposit.
• If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Inch of water in a home could cost $25,000 to fix. What if you don't have flood insurance?