The Federal Emergency Management Agency is extending Transitional Sheltering Assistance in Western North Carolina until Jan. 11, 2025. The program has helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors who need temporary shelter, mostly in hotels.
This extension allows people additional time to find housing or make repairs to their home, according to FEMA. The agency will continue providing free hotel and motel rooms to more than 4,900 families who are already checked into area hotels.
"North Carolina is thankful for FEMA's continued partnership as we work together to ensure that all Helene survivors have safe shelter as they begin the recovery process,” said North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray. “The approval of our extension request of the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program through the holiday season is another step to helping North Carolinians recover from this disaster."
According to a FEMA press release, more than 10,000 households have taken temporary shelter in Transitional Sheltering Assistance participating hotels, and about half have found suitable, longer-term housing and moved on with their recovery.
FEMA said it will notify people about seven days before their checkout dates. A message is also sent to their participants’ disaster assistance accounts if they have set them up on DisasterAssistance.gov.
For more information, survivors should contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
