DAMASCUS, Va. — Virginia residents affected by Hurricane Helene have until Dec. 2 to file the initial paperwork required to receive federal monetary assistance to help pay for items destroyed or damaged by flooding. The Federal Emergency Management said more than 9,000 people have registered for aid so far.
Jeff Jones, the FEMA Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer, said the organization set up shop in areas of Virginia affected by Hurricane Helene shortly after reports of damage emerged.
"You see people at their best, the resiliency comes out and they're positive and they just want to rebuild," Jones said. "That's where we try to come in and we want to provide that little bit of hope that we're here with you and we want to stay with you through that process."
WBIR visited Damascus, Virginia, in October and spoke to families who said they got less than $10,000 each from FEMA after their homes were destroyed in the flooding. Jones said FEMA comes in after insurance companies take a look at damage to assess what policies will cover.
After that, FEMA also assesses damage and looks to see if it can offer things like rental assistance. The agency then sends people a letter, letting them know the amount of assistance they can provide.
"If it's listed they were not eligible for something, then we want them to be eligible and we are going to do everything possible to make that happen," Jones said.
People can appeal the amount of assistance FEMA has offered, by either writing a letter explaining why they need more aid or by filling out an application, Jones said.
According to FEMA, it can take up to three months for a person to receive a decision. Jones said assistance may cover things that insurance doesn't, like certain home repairs and personal property losses.
"Let's say you have tools that were damaged or destroyed, then we can step in there, and help with that," Jones said.
Although FEMA can't cover all needs, Jones said it can connect people to other services that can help.
"Let's say we have been able to help all we could, but we also have staff here that work with voluntary agencies to see if they can fill gaps and help people," Jones said. "It's not just limited to FEMA — nobody can recover with just FEMA, we know it takes the whole community."