Apply for Assistance
Rumors, Fraud & Scams
Debris Removal
Housing Assistance
Assistance for Businesses
How to Help
Mental Health Resources
Tools
News
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.
Apply for Assistance
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
Beware of Rumors, Fraud and Scams
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.
Debris Removal
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.
Housing Assistance for Disaster Survivors
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.
Disaster Assistance for Businesses
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.
How to Help
- 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.
Mental Health Resources for Disaster Survivors
Use these resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
988 Crisis Lifeline
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.
Disaster Distress Helpline
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
Download multimedia resources such as social graphics, flyers, announcer scripts, accessible videos and animations in multiple languages to help you share important disaster information with others before, during and after a disaster.
Get web resources, video messaging, graphics, social media copy, and sample text to share with your community about recovering from Hurricane Helene.
Access information about disaster assistance programs, emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities, and flood insurance in multiple languages.
Download the FEMA app to get real-time weather alerts, prepare for a storm, and find shelters nearby.
If you have flood insurance from FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, visit FloodSmart.gov to learn more about your flood insurance policy.
Get answers to frequently asked questions about emergency shelters, disaster assistance, flood insurance and more.
Learn more about common disaster-related rumors and the facts you need to jumpstart your recovery. Find information on identifying disaster fraud and how to report it.
Get guidance to help you recover your family treasures from a disaster.
Download this printable flyer in English (or in multiple languages) to provide quick access to support in the case of a civil rights violation. FEMA has resources to ensure equal access to all programs, services and benefits.
If you are interested in providing paid services and goods for disaster relief, visit our Doing Business with FEMA page to get started.
Press Releases, Fact Sheets and Blogs
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