Hurricanes

FEMA opens disaster recovery center in Fayetteville

For a second time in less than two years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency opened a disaster recovery center in Fayetteville, and officials are moving quickly to provide help to those whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Florence.

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — For a second time in less than two years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency opened a disaster recovery center in Fayetteville, and officials are moving quickly to provide help to those whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Florence.


Frankie McLaughlin went to process a claim on Monday. It is something he is very familiar with, having filed a claim after Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

"Well, this time it's pretty much the same thing. Flooded out and trees hit my room, breaking my front door glass. Water all in the house," he said.

Bonnie Altman also needs assistance.

"The roof, I mean I got an 80-by-40-inch tarp up there, and you know it's going to leak in," Altman said.

McLaughlin and Altman were two of many hoping to get grants through FEMA or low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration to make repairs. The first step is to register the claim with FEMA via phone, online or in person at the center.

To do that, you need:

  1. Address of the location where the damage occurred
  2. Current mailing address and telephone number
  3. Insurance information and total household annual income

"We can provide rental assistance to help people rent a place to live temporarily. We are looking at a hotel program where people will be notified that they're eligible to live in a hotel," said John Mills, a FEMA spokesman.

The center is open seven days a week, and while some are seeking help for the first time because of Hurricane Florence, others hit by two hurricanes in two years are giving up hope.

"Eventually, as the years come, I'm going to have to move out because it's going to happen again," McLaughlin said.

Gov. Roy Cooper said 80,000 people in North Carolina have registered with FEMA for assistance, which is about the total number after Hurricane Matthew. More people will be registering in the coming weeks, he says.

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