Guilford’s Florence victims can apply for federal disaster aid

Oct. 27--Guilford County residents and business owners can now seek federal aid over damage and losses from Hurricane Florence last month.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday in a news release it added Guilford, Chatham and Durham counties to 31 others already eligible for aid.

To be eligible, the storm damage and losses must have occurred as a result of Hurricane Florence between Sept. 7 and Sept. 29, FEMA said. The aid would cover uninsured and underinsured damage and losses.

Homeowner's or flood insurance claims must be filed first before applying for federal disaster relief, the agency said.

To apply:

* Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov.

* Call 800-621-3362 (voice, 711 or VRS) or 800-462-7585 (TTY) anytime from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time seven days a week until further notice. Multilingual operators are available.

* Visit a disaster recovery center. To find center locations and hours, go online to fema.gov/DRC or download the FEMA mobile app in English or Spanish.

Aid is available to homeowners as well as renters. Grants help pay for basic repairs to make a home habitable, temporary rental assistance, and serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources.

Aid may include low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration for businesses (including landlords), private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters, the agency said.

"The addition of three more counties to the disaster declaration will help more North Carolinians get their lives back on track after Hurricane Florence," Gov. Roy Cooper said in the release.

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