FEMA opens disaster resource center in Caldwell County

LENOIR, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — “It just completely took off the whole back end of the trailer and put me in a state of shock. My wife said I didn’t talk for four days,” said Lenoir resident Anthony Greene.

He and his wife say they’ve been recovering in a motel since Hurricane Helene’s destruction sent trees crashing into their home. Greene says he’s been through traumatic events in his life—but nothing like this.

On Saturday, he and his wife spent the morning at the Caldwell County health services building discussing their relief needs with FEMA disaster resource officials.

“Basically, what would help us out tremendously would be reimbursement from the motels, even though they said that we must approve, we had to make the payments first, and then they reimbursed. Kind of scared we might run out of money,” Greene said.

FEMA spokesperson Jann Tracey says that’s what the agency is here for. This is the first day officials will be in Caldwell County to meet with hurricane victims.

She says being able to talk to a representative in person, whether that’s door-to-door or at a center, makes a difference for survivors.

“It’s a really invaluable resource to people who have had damage to their homes or have lost property, personal property, because when they come here, not only can they make applications for assistance from FEMA, but they can also talk one on one with somebody and get accurate information. So once you have your application in with FEMA, FEMA will not duplicate the insurance, but we cover things that are uninsured or underinsured up to a certain point,” Tracey said.

Tracey says the first thing neighbors should do is contact their insurance company and simultaneously contact FEMA. She says the agency understands that some places still have no powers, so agents are going door to door.

FEMA officials are allotting $750 for emergency needs. This center is to get survivors back on their feet.

“The $750 is for emergency needs and it’s money that they can get very, very fast for things like water, food, maybe it’s baby formula or diapers or whatever, whatever the emergency needs are. Whereas the application, you fill out the application for further assistance.”

So far, officials say over $1.2 million in approved grants for individual assistance in Caldwell County and over 3,600 applications have been submitted.

FEMA has approved more than $84 million in grants for individual assistance statewide and over 158,000 applications have been submitted.

Greene says the agency has been more than responsive to his family.

“We contacted FEMA one day and the next thing they were on it. My wife called and explained to them what happened to their home. And within literally within 12 hours, we were approved for housing or a motel up until December,” Greene said.

Tracey says the center is also there for people with small businesses.

“In the time of disaster, the Small Business Administration also works with individuals. So that is a nice thing to have just in your back pocket to have a low-interest loan. You don’t have to use it, you don’t have to take it,” she said.

The Disaster Resource Center will open on Saturday, October 12 at 8 a.m. at the Health and Human Services Building, 2345 Morganton Boulevard, Lenoir.

The center will be open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. The Disaster Resource Center will help people apply for individual assistance and small business loans.

• People applying for FEMA assistance need to provide:
• Address with zip code
• Condition of the damaged home
• Insurance information, if available
• Social Security number
• Phone number where you can be contacted
• Address where you can get mail or email address to receive electronic notifications
• A picture ID is not required to apply for FEMA assistance.

To apply for FEMA assistance online, visit disasterassistance.gov, call 800-621-3362 or by download the FEMA app .

For more information, visit caldwellcountync.org/494/Helene .

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