I am traveling for work a few days before thanksgiving and was looking for things to do.

I like outdoors and was thinking about the creeper trail. Is the weather too cold? Is the trail closed?

hi, I just moved down looking for a good pediatric doctors for my twins! we had really good doctors in ohio and want the same :)

I lived in Alleghany County, NC for five years. I no longer live there but seeing all the destruction is horrible. Maybe I have the wrong information, but please share the word.

1.) Finding Out If You Can Apply

If you live in TN, VA, GA, SC, FL, or NC, you can apply for FEMA assistance if your county has been declared. Go to FEMA Disaster Declarations look for your state and the disaster (tropical storm/hurricane Helene) and make sure the number in parentheses started with DR. Click on your state, then click on where it says designated areas. You will see a map and a break down below. Look for individual assistance and see if your county is listed below. If so, you may apply for assistance, if not, you could still call and ask if you can apply. However, more than likely, if your county is not listed, you cannot.

If you are US citizen of ANY age (you do not have to be 18 or older to apply) or have a child who is a US citizen with a valid social security number, you can apply for FEMA!

2.) Should I Apply?

I recommend everyone in the affected areas apply. Once you miss the application deadline, you cannot go back to apply for assistance. Especially with this being a flood event, if you find out months later your home or property has mold or damages you did not see, if I am correct you can call back to your application and request additional assistance.

It does not hurt you to apply. If you think you do not have bad damage, and you don’t want to take funds from other survivors, you are not! Please apply, you may have damage you don’t even know about yet. If you want to help people worse off, volunteer where you can, donate, share information, ask those in need, get active in your community.

3.) Important Things to Remember Regarding Applying

•Only one person per household/address can apply. So if you and your spouse or child apply separately, this may cause a delay, because it will look like fraud. Make sure to include whoever lives with you within your application.

•If you are a renter, please if you are calling the disaster assistance number or working with someone from FEMA registering you, please tell them you are a renter. I am unsure what kind of assistance you may receive, but at least try and clarify that.

•If you are a renter with roommates, ask them whoever is assisting you whether your roommate should be added under your application or submit their own. I’m sorry I’m not sure how you should proceed.

4.) Trying to Prevent Fraud

If you are being assisted in person, FEMA employees have badges. Ask to see their badge. NO, you cannot take pictures of it! Housing inspectors must also show their badges.

If you receive a call about your application and they are asking for your social security number, do not share it! If you are calling for an application update, they will ask you to prove information based on the application to verify its you. But you should never be asked to share your whole SSN. When calling in you may be asked for your last four digits, but I can’t remember if they do that or not.

Unfortunately during disasters, there is a lot of people willing to commit fraud and scam survivors. Please be vigilant. I would recommend for applying, you call the disaster assistance or go to a FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers However, as of right now, disaster recovery centers may not be open for some states just yet.

5.) Engaging with FEMA

I know people are frustrated and this is an extremely hard time. FEMA employees you meet work with a certain function and are limited sometimes in the tasks they can do at their level.

If FEMA people approach your property, they may be trying to register you for assistance. If you do not want them there, please kindly ask them to leave or ask for the location of the nearest disaster recovery center or the number to call about your application.

A large portion of FEMA employees are disaster survivors too. Whether it is someone who lives in the area, also affected, from another place currently affected, or affected from past disasters. They know the pain of losing their homes, having to rebuild, and watch their community struggle. You do not have to like them, but please kindly turn them away if you do not want help or to engage. Any anger you may have, especially if at FEMA directed at FEMA staff will not change issues. Voice your concerns and frustrations, but please remember they are people too.

6.) Complaints

If you feel you have been discriminated against or you have concerns regarding your assistance, please go here: FEMA Civil Rights Even if you do not feel like it applies to you, please look it over. They have flyers and brochures in multiple languages that explain your rights during a disaster.

7.) Cleaning Up/Debris Removal and Housing Inspections

Take pictures!!! Please take pictures of any damages to your property and home before cleaning up.

If your mattress is soaked and instead of being in the bedroom it’s in the living room, take a picture. Your car window is cracked? Picture. Throwing out food from your fridge? Take a picture.

Document, document, document. Record anything damaged. During a housing inspection you want to show pictures to the inspector. Tell them what you loss, what is damaged, what you had to throw out, talk their ears off.

If your housing inspector does not show you their badge, do not let them into your home! This could be fraud. If your housing inspector does not enter your home or stays for very little time, or you have any other issues or concerns regarding the inspection done at your home, call up and complain. Ask for another inspector or a reinspection, you may have to explain why you need one.

8.) Supplies Purchased for Helene

If you bought a generator, a chainsaw, or other items in preparation or after Helene hit, keep your receipts.

I am not promising anything! But sometimes there is reimbursement for such items purchased for the storm. It varies based on disaster and state.

9.) Denial from FEMA for Assistance

I hate this one the most. If you get a denial letter, please read it over. You may be denied because you have homeowners insurance, but what the letter may be asking is for proof of insurance.

FEMA does not want to duplicate funds. As in, if your insurance company gives you $100 for missing shingles, and FEMA gives you $100 for the same missing shingles, you have a duplication of funds, and you may need to pay back FEMA. No, FEMA is not trying to “gotcha!” anyone. They are simply trying to prevent a situation where that happens.

This does not mean lying on your disaster assistance application! Doing that is FRAUD. Clearly communicate and keep FEMA in the loop regarding your insurance if you have any. If you can reach out to your insurance as soon as possible and see what you can get covered for regarding the storm. This does not mean delay applying for FEMA, again, you can apply and ask for updates to your application, especially as your insurance company begins to cover or deny your claims.

If you got denied for other reasons, you can appeal! If you go to the Disaster Recovery Center, tell them you would like to appeal, and ask what steps you will need to take to do so.

10.) Shelters

Even if you do not need a shelter, please look at Red Cross Services The Red Cross is providing supplies and resources. Please come take them!

If you repeating “but I don’t want to take resources from others” do not worry about that. I’m serious. Take care of yourself, help neighbors, but these things are being given out for you and the community. Take it, please. Any meals they make that aren’t taken will go to waste, so please, again, take it. They also have counseling.

11.) Counseling and Mental Health

If you are suffering from mental health issues, or stressed about the events regarding the storm, please they have counselors. They want to help you, they are trained for it, and I’m sure many of them are survivors as well. Please reach out. This is not our average storm, where some trees came down, we broke out the chainsaw and cleared the road. This is a federally declared disaster, and people working in disaster relief know this is huge on a massive scale. If you feel overwhelmed, upset, irritable, sad, frustrated, anything, especially if it seems uncharacteristic for you or a loved one, please talk to a counselor.

I have seen the aftermath to wildfires, floods, tornadoes, and I’m telling you, it breaks you, even people who would never identify as being sensitive. Reaching out doesn’t make you any less independent, resilient, strong, brave, etc. You cannot get past this without processing what has happened. Please, understand the warning signs of emotional distress, here’s a link to acute stress: Acute Stress vs PTSD

As someone who comes from a military family, I promise you, PTSD is not just for soldiers. Disasters are traumatic events. You got to take care of yourself and look out for others.

Please also look into this: Reddit Post about Mental Health Resources

12.) For Tarping Your Home

Please go to the Post About Roof Tarping Assistance if you need tarping for your roof.

TDLR: I have added resources about applying for assistance with FEMA and the Red Cross. If any information is wrong, I apologize in advance.

Please take care of yourself. If you have needs such as a wellness check or help needing resources in North Carolina, please go to this post and comment under it: NC Map of Help Needed If there are other maps like this for other states, please post in the comments.

Update I am not familiar with them, but here: United Policyholders

Met them in Maui, they also may be a resource to help navigate insurance.

Other Posts with Resources

•Resource Post from r/appalachia

•What to do with your Credit Card During a Disaster

•Rumors About FEMA - Facts and Myths

•How to Help

•National Disaster Distress Helpline

• Frequently Asked Questions-Disaster Assistance.Gov

•STOP MISINFORMATION Post

I am updating this post as I find resources and others post helpful information

-Updated 10/09/2024 1pm EST- Reminder: Please take care of yourself. Ngl, I’m exhausted, and I know you need help. If I am delaying updating this or getting back to anyone reaching out, I apologize. You guys need to also take care of yourself. Take time for yourself at least 30 minutes each day if you can. I know these are hard times, but you will burn yourself out.

Is the trail closed post-hurricane? I called someone in the forestry office and left a message asking, haven’t heard back.