Hurricane Helene

Hear from survivors of hurricanes Helene and Milton about how they were impacted from the storms and turned to FEMA to get assistance.

Learn more about the response to Hurricane Helene across all federal agencies on USA.gov.

Federal disaster assistance is available to the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia to help jumpstart recovery efforts.

You can apply for assistance in three ways:

• online by visiting disasterassistance.gov
• call 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.
• download the FEMA app

Misinformation and rumors can spread quickly after a disaster. Keep your community safe by being aware of common rumors about Hurricane Helene.

Be aware of scam artists and identity thieves who are attempting to take advantage of survivors. Watch for and report any suspicious activity, or anything that just doesn’t seem right to you. Visit Disaster Fraud or CISA Warns of Hurricane-Related Scams to learn more.

Graphic

Debris removal activities, such as clearance, removal, recycling and disposal are eligible under Public Assistance Category A if the removal is in the public interest, among other factors.

Learn more about assistance for debris removal.

Graphic

Disaster survivors with damage to their primary residence may be eligible for FEMA Sheltering and Housing Assistance such as lodging reimbursement, rental assistance, or home repair or replacement.

Learn more about housing assistance options.

Graphic

Do you run a business or are you a business owner affected by Hurricane Helene? There are many assistance programs available across the federal government designed to help you and your business.

Learn about assistance for you, your employees, and your business.

• Volunteer to help. Sign up to volunteer with a reputable group or organization. Do not go by yourself to a disaster area. Look up volunteer opportunities on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website. 
• Cash is the best donation. It’s important to donate responsibly. When people support voluntary organizations with financial contributions, it helps ensure a steady flow of important services to the people in need after a disaster.
• Identify what is needed. Before donating supplies connect with organizations working in the affected area to find out how much is needed and when it is needed.

Use these resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):

Sometimes help can’t wait. If you or someone you know is in danger or having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.  Access the 988 Crisis Lifeline by dialing/texting 988 or chatting at 988lifeline.org. You will speak with a crisis counselor any time of day or night.

The helpline is open to anyone experiencing emotional distress related to disasters. This includes survivors of disasters; loved ones of victims; first responders; rescue, recovery, and relief workers; clergy; and parents and caregivers. You may call for yourself or on behalf of someone else.

You can call the toll-free, multilingual Disaster Distress Helpline for confidential counseling, referrals and other support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call or text 1-800-985-5990. Spanish speakers should press “2”. Deaf and hard of hearing ASL callers can connect directly to an American Sign Language agent, through ASL Now or by calling 1-800-985-5990 from your videophone.

Disaster-Related Tools

Images and Videos

View Hurricane Helene images and videos to see how FEMA and federal partners are supporting on the ground.

View on DVIDS

View on FEMA Media Library

Press Releases, Fact Sheets and Blogs

Search by Keyword

Federal Assistance for Hurricane Helene Exceeds $344 Million as FEMA Expands Dual Response Efforts as Hurricane Milton Forecast to Make Landfall This Evening

FEMA, under the direction of the Biden-Harris Administration, continues to lead a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to assist communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. As of October 9, federal disaster assistance for survivors has surpassed $344 million and has reached 375,000 households.

Press Release | October 9, 2024

Chester, Kershaw, Orangeburg Counties Eligible for FEMA Assistance in South Carolina

Homeowners and renters in Chester, Kershaw and Orangeburg counties who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Helene are now eligible to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.

Press Release | October 9, 2024

How to Replace Lost Documents in North Carolina

When applying for FEMA assistance after Tropical Storm Helene, North Carolinians may need to provide proof of identity, residence and other documentation. Here are some steps to help you replace important documents that were lost or damaged in the storm.

Press Release | October 9, 2024

FEMA Is Contacting People Affected by Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene

Georgians who apply for disaster assistance for Tropical Storm Debby or Hurricane Helene may be eligible for assistance for both disasters. FEMA is placing calls to survivors in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long, and Screven counties who only registered for one of the disasters to inform them that they can apply for assistance for both disasters if they sustained damaged from both storms.

Press Release | October 9, 2024

FEMA Calls May Come from Unfamiliar Phone Numbers

After Georgians apply for disaster assistance for Tropical Storm Debby, with an incident period of Aug. 4-20, 2024, or for Hurricane Helene, FEMA may call you to schedule an inspection of the damaged home, or to obtain more information to process your application for assistance. People who only applied for assistance for one of the disasters may also receive a call to inform them that they can apply for assistance for both disasters.

Press Release | October 9, 2024

Displaying 581 - 585 of 682