Apply before midnight: For Florence victims, FEMA deadline hours away

By Emmy Victor, WRAL reporter

Raleigh, N.C. — Wednesday marks the last day for victims of Hurricane Florence to apply for FEMA aid and recovery help.

Gov. Roy Cooper extended the original FEMA deadline of Thursday, Dec. 13 last week to give home and business owners suffering damages more time. Cooper earlier this week also wrote President Donald Trump asking for federal disaster assistance in 21 counties that received damages from Hurricane Michael’s remnants in October.

Now, the governor is urging North Carolinians in need to not miss tonight’s deadline. Those who have serious damage from Florence have until midnight to apply. After midnight, FEMA can only grant additional assistance to those who already applied.

More than $1 billion has already been approved to help North Carolinians hit hard by Florence. Through FEMA, flood insurance payments, grants and small loans are helping homeowners, renters and businesses recover.

Many began the process to receive assistance by visiting a disaster recovery center. A total of 42,000 people stopped by for help before those centers closed.

More than 99,000 applications from people seeking help were filed after the September storm’s record rains and flooding.

People looking to apply for aid can call the helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or go online and visit disaster-assistance-dot-gov.