North Carolina

FEMA

Department of Labor

  •  The U.S. Department of Labor awarded North Carolina a grant of $18.5 million to hire residents of the areas impacted by Hurricane Florence to work on recovery efforts. This grant aims to provide temporary jobs in response to significant job losses following the storm. Residents can apply at NCWorks Career Centers or online at https://www.ncworks.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx.

State Government

  •  North Carolina Department of Public Service reports that 1,460 people remain in 21 shelters.
  • Eighteen counties are approved for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and residents can file through October 17 or 18, depending on the county.
  • Governor Roy Cooper approved $4 million to fund mosquito control efforts in counties impacted by Hurricane Florence. The rains and flooding have increased the mosquito population significantly in these areas, posing a potential health risk.

Local Perspectives & Resources

  • An article from the Huffington Post shares photos and testimony from residents of Solomon Towers, a public housing development in Wilmington, NC, and demonstrates the impacts of Hurricane Florence on low income people. The lack of thorough maintenance prior to the storm led to significant damage that residents fear may not be fixed quickly.
  • The organizers of the North Carolina Affordable Housing Conference have added an additional workshop on disaster recovery. The conference will take place October 24-25 in Raleigh, NC. You can register for the conference here.

South Carolina

FEMA

  • Survivors in Georgetown County are now eligible for Individual Assistance through FEMA.

State Government

  • South Carolina Emergency Management Division reports that six shelters remain open throughout the state.

General

  • Owners and managers of Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties in Kentucky can provide temporary emergency housing to North and South Carolina residents displaced by Hurricane Florence after receiving written approval from the Kentucky Housing Corporation.
  • A GAO blog provides details on how FEMA Individual Assistance programs work and provides several recommendations on how the program can be improved.

Read previous Disaster Housing Recovery updates at http://nlihc.org/issues/disaster