Hurricane Helene recovery efforts: The Biden-Harris administration provides $2.1 billion in aid

A month after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in parts of the Southeast and Appalachia, the White House said the Biden-Harris administration remains deeply involved in recovery efforts, mobilizing federal resources to help survivors and rebuild devastated communities build.

So far, the administration said it has provided more than $2.1 billion in federal assistance, including aid for both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida shortly afterward.

According to a White House fact sheet, the federal assistance includes more than $1 billion aimed at helping individuals and families with home repairs, personal property replacement and essential recovery needs. Another $1.1 billion in government aid will be used to support state and local governments in removing debris, ensuring emergency response and providing critical resources such as shelter, food and water.

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other senior administration officials maintained close coordination with state and local leaders before, during and after the storms, visiting affected areas to assess damage and determine further federal support priorities.

On October 26, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall met with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, FEMA and North Carolina philanthropic organizations, all serving to accelerate the speed and effectiveness of recovery efforts. enlarge.

Currently, nearly 5,000 federal personnel are deployed in North Carolina and Florida, working with state and local officials to support recovery operations. FEMA has delivered more than 11 million meals and 9.6 million gallons of water to affected communities, and 65 Disaster Recovery Centers are now open to provide in-person assistance to survivors, including 21 centers in North Carolina alone.

The National Guard and Department of Defense have also played a major role in the recovery effort, flying more than 1,600 ground and air missions to distribute humanitarian aid, remove debris and clear hundreds of miles of roadway. In addition, the US Army Corps of Engineers has deployed more than 450 personnel to six states to remove debris, restore power, assess infrastructure and ensure the safety of local waterways.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has also expanded support by providing accelerated Medicare payments to support healthcare facilities affected by the storm. In North Carolina, HHS is working with Baxter International to restore IV fluid production at the damaged plant, and production is expected to resume soon.

The Ministry of Education is working with disaster-affected states to assess damage to schools, restore learning conditions and support displaced students, ensuring that student borrowers in affected areas must be patient during natural disasters to ease their financial burden.

Agricultural support has also been prioritized, with the USDA allocating $233 million to help farmers during the harvest season. Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits are available in several affected states, providing essential food assistance to affected residents.

In infrastructure restoration, the Environmental Protection Agency is working closely with water utilities to restore safe drinking water and wastewater supplies, deploying mobile testing labs and removing hazardous materials. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has helped restore airspace and provided $144 million in emergency highway assistance to several states for immediate repairs.

To address housing issues, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced it has issued a 90-day foreclosure moratorium on FHA-insured mortgages in disaster-affected areas, with additional financing options for homeowners who need to repair or rebuild.

The IRS has extended tax filing deadlines for affected individuals and businesses until May 2025, and Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available to eligible workers in several states.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has tentatively approved more than $51 million in disaster loans for survivors, with hundreds of employees helping with applications and customer support across the region.

Biden said the administration will support affected people “for as long as it takes” as they rebuild stronger, more resilient communities.