RALEIGH, N.C. – September 22, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be installing temporary housing units as a short-term solution for eligible Hurricane Irene survivors in North Carolina. The first unit is scheduled to be installed in Chocowinity in the next few days.
FEMA and North Carolina Emergency Management are working with local officials and storm survivors to identify other locations; more homes are expected to be installed soon in areas where housing is needed.
“This temporary housing will help meet essential needs for displaced homeowners in eastern North Carolina,” Gov. Bev Perdue said. “Having a home is vital in the recovery process and will provide a foundation for these hurricane survivors to rebuild their lives. We will continue to aggressively seek any needed assistance for our citizens and communities who suffered losses from Hurricane Irene.”
The units are provided as a last resort in areas with extremely limited rental resources. To speed the recovery process, units will be installed temporarily on a survivor’s property, or as close as possible, so that survivors can make repairs or rebuild their homes.
In order to be eligible, survivors must first register with FEMA.
There are two types of manufactured housing that may be installed depending on the family’s need. Both come furnished and equipped with a stove, refrigerator and microwave oven.
The manufactured housing units are part of a larger state and FEMA temporary housing program that uses several resources to house eligible residents displaced by Hurricane Irene. The preferred temporary housing solution used for survivors is temporary rental assistance.
Each FEMA temporary housing unit is certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
To register with FEMA:
- Call 800-621-FEMA (3362). Help is available in most languages. People who have a speech disability or are deaf or hard of hearing may call (TTY) 800-462-7585; users of 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362.
- Register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
- Register using a tablet or smartphone at m.fema.gov.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
