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Help Available for N.C. Homes Damaged by Hurricane Florence

More than 2,300 damaged homes have been repaired through the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power Program using FEMA money. A state program is available for those who face long-term housing issues.

Tornado (5)6
(TNS) — Area residents who were forced from their homes because of damage suffered during Hurricane Florence may find relief through a state program, Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday.

The Disaster Case Management Program is available for those who face long-term housing issues, according to a news release from Cooper's office.

The state has contracted with experienced case managers who will work with faith-based and volunteer organizations to help meet survivors' needs, the release said.

Lee, Harnett, Chatham and Moore county residents who suffered property damage in the hurricane and are needing assistance should contact a disaster case manager by emailing DCMNC@Endeavors.org or calling the regional office in Fayetteville at 910-672-6175.

More than 2,300 homes that were damaged in the hurricane have been repaired through the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power Program using money from FEMA, the release said, but there are long-term needs that still need to be addressed.

There are additional state and federal programs which are either underway or awaiting funding to assist Hurricane Florence survivors. FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program helps eligible homeowners and local governments to rebuild, elevate or buy out flooded properties.

According to Cooper's release, North Carolina is waiting for notification from Washington on another major program that will help with Hurricane Florence housing recovery, the federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In October 2018, Congress passed legislation appropriating CDBG-DR funds for Florence and several other natural disasters, but North Carolina does not yet know what share of the funds it will receive or the rules for using those funds to help with long-term recovery.

The state Department of Health and Human Services is also assisting hurricane survivors with housing solutions through its Back@Home NC program. The initiative assists families who were not eligible for FEMA assistance to transition to safe and stable housing. To date, more than 200 families have moved to permanent housing through the program.

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