RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina residents who suffered losses and damage as a result of Hurricane Matthew can now get information about available state and federal assistance at Disaster Recovery Centers in Bladen and Sampson counties opening Friday, Oct. 28.
Location: Bladen County
Powell Melvin Agricultural Service Center
450 Smith Circle
Elizabethtown, NC 28337
Sampson County
Sampson County Human Services
360 County Complex Road, Suite 200, Room 274
Clinton, NC 28328
Regular hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., until further notice.
DRCs are staffed with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, North Carolina Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration. You can receive help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and get updates regarding your application.
FEMA and the state also have DRCs open in 14 additional counties. To locate a DRC nearest to you, call 1-800-621-3362 or download the FEMA mobile app. If you have access to a computer, you can go online to ncdps.gov.
If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. It is the same number if you use 711, Video Relay Service, or any other relay service.
- Call 800-462-7585 if you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY
- Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply
Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation such as American Sign Language interpreting, Braille large print, etc. while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the Helpline number for support. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assests/veideos/111546
FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.
Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.
For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4285; or visit the North Carolina Emergency Management website at ncdps.gov/. Follow FEMA on Twitter at @femaregion4.
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