News and Media: Disaster 4827

North Carolinians should be aware that con artists and criminals may try to obtain money or steal personal information through fraud or identity theft after Tropical Storm Helene. In some cases, thieves try to apply for FEMA assistance using names, addresses and Social Security numbers they have stolen from people affected by the disaster.

As response efforts continue in North Carolina and the Southeast, FEMA remains focused on getting help to people and areas that need it the most. More than 5,600 personnel from across the federal workforce are deployed, including more than 1,500 from FEMA.

The response across southeastern states affected by Hurricane and Tropical Storm Helene continues to address critical needs of survivors. This includes search and rescue operations, power and communications restoration and delivering food and water.

As search and rescue, power restoration and communication capabilities remain top priorities throughout the Southeast, FEMA has already helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors jumpstart their recoveries with more than $20 million in flexible, upfront funding.

FEMA has activated Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) for North Carolinians displaced by Tropical Storm Helene in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties and for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.