SOUTH CAROLINA: HURRICANE IAN BI-WEEKLY FACT SHEET – MARCH 17, 2023
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/south-carolina-hurricane-ian-bi-weekly-fact-sheet-march-17-2023]


Release Date: 
Mar 17, 2023 

RECOVERY BY THE NUMBERS

	* FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration have approved $4.9
MILLION IN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE for survivors of Hurricane Ian, which
hit South Carolina in SEPT. 2022. This includes: 

 	* $2,772,279 in FEMA assistance was approved for individuals and
households, including:

 	* $2,369,641 approved for housing assistance

	* $402,638 approved for other disaster-related needs 

 	* $2,240,400 in SBA disaster loans was approved for homeowners,
renters and businesses

 	* The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance was MONDAY, JAN. 23,
2023.

KEY MESSAGES

FEMA RENTAL ASSISTANCE

Survivors receiving rental assistance must continue to work on a
longer-term housing plan to be eligible for continued rental
assistance.

South Carolina homeowners and renters in Charleston, Georgetown and
Horry counties who were affected by Hurricane Ian and received initial
rental assistance from FEMA may be eligible for continued rental
assistance.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE 

To be eligible, survivors must meet the following conditions:

 	* They were awarded initial rental assistance and used it as
intended. The initial award covers two months.
 	* They are unable to return to their pre-disaster residence because
it is uninhabitable, cannot be accessed or is not available due to
Hurricane Ian.
 	* They cannot pay for housing without assistance.
 	* They are not receiving temporary housing help from any other
source.
 	* They are developing a longer-term or permanent housing plan or can
demonstrate progress toward one.

WHY DOES FEMA NEED YOUR CURRENT CONTACT INFORMATION

 	* FEMA has awarded an additional $855,000 to 2,763 South Carolinians
after conducting targeted case reviews.
 	* FEMA staff are calling some survivors in CHARLESTON, GEORGETOWN
AND HORRY counties to obtain more information for their application to
continue processing their application for assistance after Hurricane
Ian hit the South Carolina coast in September.
 	* After you apply for federal disaster assistance, it is important
that FEMA be able to contact you. Be aware that phone calls from FEMA
may appear to come from unidentified numbers. Make sure that FEMA has
your up-to-date contact information.

	* If there are changes in your phone number, current address, banking
or insurance information, you should let FEMA know as soon as possible
or you may miss important telephone calls or correspondence. You can
update your contact information in several ways: 

 	* Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov
[https://usfema-my.sharepoint.com/personal/0754192606_fema_dhs_gov/Documents/Desktop/BI-WEEKLY%20FACT%20SHEET/DisasterAssistance.gov].
 	* Call 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay
service (VRS), captioned telephone service or other services, give
FEMA the number for that service. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11
p.m. Eastern Time in most languages, seven days a week.
 	* Download the FEMA app for smartphones.   

DISASTER LEGAL ASSISTANCE

 	* FREE DISASTER LEGAL ASSISTANCE. Low-income and vulnerable
residents affected by Hurricane Ian who cannot afford their own lawyer
can still call the toll-free legal hotline at 877-797-2227, EXT. 120,
or call the South Carolina line at 803-576-3815 to request assistance.
LINES ARE OPEN 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. MONDAY TO FRIDAY.
 	* Hurricane Ian survivors may also contact South Carolina Legal
Services at 888-346-5592 from 9 A.M. TO 6 P.M. MONDAY TO THURSDAY or
submit a request for disaster legal services at
www.lawhelp.org/sc/online-intake
[http://www.lawhelp.org/sc/online-intake].