Rural News
Jennifer Emerling / There Is More Work To Be Done
Jennifer Emerling / There Is More Work To Be Done
Hurricane Helene Disaster Guide
Hurricane Helene made an impact in northwestern Florida on Thursday night, September 26, 2024 as a Category 4 storm. The hurricane made its way through Florida’s Gulf Coast to Tennessee. There are reports of destruction, power outages, and flooding that reaches over 600 miles. HAC offers the following resources with information for communities and organizations dealing with loss and damage from Hurricane Helene: Rural Resilience in the Face of Disaster site and Disaster Response for Rural Communities Guide.
At President Biden’s direction this past weekend, the FEMA Administrator has begun to survey the damages with local and state officials in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The President approved Major Disaster declarations for the states of Florida and North Carolina which allows survivors to immediately access funds and resources for their recovery. Emergency declarations were also stated for Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, and Alabama. These emergency declarations allow FEMA to provide direct Federal support and other protective measures to affected states.
On Sunday, September 29, 2024, more than 3,300 rescue personnel were deployed across the Federal workforce. These resources are deployed to support relief efforts across the effected states and to address unmet needs. Though Hurricane Helene is no longer active, many are still without power and are in the process of seeking safety.
If you or your family has been affected by Hurricane Helene, or wish to help victims of the hurricane, organizations like All Hands and Hearts, The American Red Cross, and Americares all have resources available. If you are in need of emergency, transient housing, you can text SHELTER and your Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find where the shelter closest to you is located
Apply for FEMA Assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. FEMA Disaster Assistance Helpline answers questions about the help offered by FEMA, how to apply for assistance, or the information in your account.
Toll-free helpline: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) For hearing impaired callers only: 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) 1-800-621-3362 (Video Relay Service) Operators are multilingual and calls are answered seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET
American Red Cross Disaster Service: For referrals and updates on Red Cross shelter services in your area, locate a local Red Cross office through: https://www.redcross.org/find-help or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) The Red Cross helps disaster victims by providing safe shelter, hot meals, essential relief supplies, emotional support and health services like first aid. Trained Red Cross workers often meet one-on-one with families to develop individual plans and identify available resources to help aid recovery.
Watch “Preparing your Organization for Disaster: A Guide to Rural Resilience” Webinar
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES
Alabama
Alabama Emergency Management Agency
Phone: 205-280-2200
https://ema.alabama.gov/contacts/
Georgia
Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency
935 United Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA 30316-0055
Phone: 404-635-7200
https://gema.georgia.gov/locations
Florida
Florida Division of Emergency Management
2555 Shumard Oak Blvd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100
Phone: 850-815-4000
https://www.floridadisaster.org/
North Carolina
North Carolina Emergency Management
Phone: 919-825-2500
https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management
Tennessee
TN Emergency Management Agency
Phone: 615-741-0001
South Carolina
South Carolina Emergency Management Division
Phone: 803-737-8500
Virginia
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Phone: 804-267-7600
https://www.virginia.gov/agencies/department-of-emergency-management/
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT STATE FIELD OFFICES
Alabama
Birmingham Field Office
417 20th Street North, Suite 700
Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 731-2630
Field Office Director: Kenneth E. Free
https://www.hud.gov/states/alabama/offices
Georgia
Atlanta Regional Office
Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Building (MLK FOB)
77 Forsyth Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 331-5136
Georgia Field Office Director: Shea Johnson
https://www.hud.gov/states/georgia/offices
Florida
Miami Field Office
Brickell Plaza Federal Building
909 SE First Avenue, Room 500
Miami, FL 33131-3028
Phone: (305) 536-4456
Acting Field Office Director: Tiffany Cobb
Jacksonville Field Office
Charles East Bennett Federal Building
400 West Bay Street, Suite 1015
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 232-2627
Field Office Director: Alesia Scott-Ford
https://www.hud.gov/states/florida/offices
North Carolina
Greensboro Field Office
Asheville Building
1500 Pinecroft Road, Suite 401
Greensboro, NC 27407-3838
Phone: (336) 547-4000
Field Office Director: Lorenzo Claxton
https://www.hud.gov/states/north_carolina/offices
Tennessee
Knoxville Field Office
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
John J. Duncan Federal Building
710 Locust Street, Suite 300
Knoxville, TN 37902-2526
Phone: (865) 545-4370
Field Office Director: Walter N. Perry
https://www.hud.gov/states/tennessee/offices
South Carolina
Columbia Field Office
Strom Thurmond Federal Building
1835 Assembly Street, 13th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201-2480
Phone: (803) 765-5592
Field Office Director: Kristine G. Foye
https://www.hud.gov/states/south_carolina/offices
Virginia
Richmond Field Office
600 East Broad Street, 3rd Floor
Richmond, VA 23219-4920
Phone: (800) 842-2610
Field Office Director: Carrie S. Schmidt
USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT STATE OFFICES
Alabama
4121 Carmichael Road, Suite 601
Montgomery, AL 36106
Phone: 334-279-3400
Georgia
355 East Hancock Avenue, Room 300
Athens, Ga 30601
Phone: 404- 635-7200
https://www.rd.usda.gov/ga/georgia-contacts
Florida
4500 NW 27th Avenue
Suite D-2
Gainesville, FL 32606
Phone: 352-338-3400
North Carolina
4405 Bland Road, Suite 260
Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone: 919-873-2000
Tennessee
441 Donelson Pike, Suite 310
Nashville, TN 37214
Phone: 615-783-1300
https://www.rd.usda.gov/tn/tennessee-contacts
South Carolina
Strom Thurmond Federal Building
1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-765-5163
Virginia
1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 238
Richmond, VA 23229
Phone: 804-287-1500
https://www.rd.usda.gov/va/virginia-contacts
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT STATE FIELD OFFICES
Alabama
Birmingham Field Office
417 20th Street North, Suite 700
Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205) 731-2630
Field Office Director: Kenneth E. Free
https://www.hud.gov/states/alabama/offices
Georgia
Atlanta Regional Office
Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Building (MLK FOB)
77 Forsyth Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 331-5136
Georgia Field Office Director: Shea Johnson
https://www.hud.gov/states/georgia/offices
Florida
Miami Field Office
Brickell Plaza Federal Building
909 SE First Avenue, Room 500
Miami, FL 33131-3028
Phone: (305) 536-4456
Acting Field Office Director: Tiffany Cobb
Jacksonville Field Office
Charles East Bennett Federal Building
400 West Bay Street, Suite 1015
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 232-2627
Field Office Director: Alesia Scott-Ford
https://www.hud.gov/states/florida/offices
North Carolina
Greensboro Field Office
Asheville Building
1500 Pinecroft Road, Suite 401
Greensboro, NC 27407-3838
Phone: (336) 547-4000
Field Office Director: Lorenzo Claxton
https://www.hud.gov/states/north_carolina/offices
Tennessee
Knoxville Field Office
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
John J. Duncan Federal Building
710 Locust Street, Suite 300
Knoxville, TN 37902-2526
Phone: (865) 545-4370
Field Office Director: Walter N. Perry
https://www.hud.gov/states/tennessee/offices
South Carolina
Columbia Field Office
Strom Thurmond Federal Building
1835 Assembly Street, 13th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201-2480
Phone: (803) 765-5592
Field Office Director: Kristine G. Foye
https://www.hud.gov/states/south_carolina/offices
Virginia
Richmond Field Office
600 East Broad Street, 3rd Floor
Richmond, VA 23219-4920
Phone: (800) 842-2610
Field Office Director: Carrie S. Schmidt
