A recent community meeting to share disaster relief and recovery resources specifically for local Latinos and Hispanics saw the best turnout of any event like it in Yancey County since Helene, leaders said. On Thursday, 50 people attended the meeting, which featured bilingual representatives from key agencies like FEMA.
The meeting, which took place in Burnsville, featured representatives from FEMA and the SBA, local officials like County Commissioner Chair Jeff Whitson, County Manager Lynn Austin, Emergency Management Coordinator Jeff Howell, and Burnsville Mayor Russell Fox.
Howell called the meeting, “The biggest turnout in any group that we've had.”
The county has hosted other disaster information meetings but none specifically for the Latino and Hispanic community. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the Hispanic or Latino population is roughly 5.5% in Yancey County.
Whitson started off the meeting saying the purpose was to hear from the community.
“We want to know what you're thinking, what you're feeling, what you're concerned about, what's going on in your life or what's not going on in your life that we may be able to help out,” Whitson said. “That's what we're here for. We're here to help you.”
FEMA representatives urged attendees to sign up for disaster assistance. They also reminded people that if they are not an American-born citizen, but they have a son or a daughter who was born in the U.S., they can still apply with their information.
Then SBA officials explained the disaster loan program that can cover homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations but it is a loan and not a grant.
You can apply for SBA disaster assistance here.
Federal and local officials were assisted by the CARE team, a group of bilingual, bicultural Hispanic and Latino ambassadors focused on supporting and advocating for the community in Yancey and Mitchell counties.
The team was formed through Partners Aligned Toward Health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Those in attendance asked a wide range of questions like who qualifies for FEMA and SBA help, disaster unemployment, and what help is there if they don’t have a Social Security number.
Whitson said churches are there to help everyone, in addition to government programs.
“It doesn't matter whether you're a citizen or not,” Whitson explained. “You're a human being and if you need help, we want to help. So do not be afraid to reach out just because you're not a U.S. citizen. Especially with the church community, because we're here to help.”
