Social Distancing

Nearly a month after Hurricane Helene hit our area many are still in search of assistance, as FEMA works through thousands of applications.Gabriel Gonzalez, a FEMA spokesperson, says in the weeks following Hurricane Helene around 12,000 assistance applications were filed per day here in South Carolina. Now that number is closer to 5,000 per day.”Survivors and applicants, they just need guidance on ‘where do I go’? ‘What documents do I need?’ How do I file my application?” he explains.He says there’s a change in recovery needs. Since Hurricane Helene nearly 400,000 applications have been filed in south carolina.”As of yesterday, cob, we had disbursed $162 million in grants and aid,” Gonzalez says.He says a major tool FEMA is currently using to offer aid is through disaster recovery centers, with a new one opening in Oconee County on Wednesday.” can do pretty much from filing their initial application, verifying the status of an application, uploading documents,” he saysGonzalez explains money is still available for those who need assistance, in the form of grants.”Due to the disaster and the hurricane, the grant caps are 42,500, and that is an umbrella,” he says.He adds if you’re waiting on a response for a home inspection, it’s possible contractors will call you on a nongovernment phone number. However, you should still verify and ask them for identification. Gonzalez says the best way to access help is through FEMA’s website, app or in person at a DRC. You can locate one here.”We also have transitional sheltering assistance. If you are displaced or you cannot stay in your house because your house is uninhabitable,” he says.If your home was not damaged by debris but is still in your yard, FEMA does not offer assistance for debris removal. However, you could get money for your car if it’s damaged.”Let’s say your car got flooded because of the but it’s still salvageable. We can assist also with, transportation and repairs for vehicles in the household primary vehicle household,” Gonzalez says.Gonzalez says he still expects more centers to open here in the upstate this week. One in Spartanburg will open Thursday at 175 Community College Drive.You can locate one close to your home here.