The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) just opened a new Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Mecklenburg County, designed to assist North Carolina survivors impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Located at Corvian Community School on David Taylor Drive in University City, the center will be open every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. This DRC aims to provide essential support for those recovering from disaster-related damages, allowing survivors to meet face-to-face with FEMA representatives to apply for assistance and get referrals to local services. Individuals can also apply for low-interest disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.
FEMA financial assistance may cover various disaster-related needs, including basic home repairs, personal property losses, and costs related to childcare, transportation, medical, funeral, or dental expenses.
In addition to the new center in University City, several other DRCs are already operating across the state, including locations in Asheville, Boone, Hendersonville, and more. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or other functional needs, and they are equipped with assistive technology to ensure equitable access to all services.
More than $60 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have already been distributed, with 134,000 people registering for aid for Hurricane Helene relief. Around 2,600 residents are housed in hotels under FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Federal teams have provided nearly 9.78 million liters of water and approximately 7.7 million meals to those in need. Public water supply updates are available through a dedicated website launched on Saturday.
The 89 storm-related fatalities in North Carolina may increase as rescue efforts continue. Residents seeking aid can apply for FEMA assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362, visiting disasterassistance.gov, fema.gov/drc, or text “DRC” and their zip code to 43362.
