FEMA Extends Hotel Vouchers for Thousands of WNC Residents Displaced by Helene

Asheville: FEMA has decided to extend hotel stays for more than 3,000 folks in Western North Carolina who were displaced by Tropical Storm Helene. This extension will last until January 25, which is a relief for many families.

They made the announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter, just before 8:15 p.m. on January 13. This was right before a lot of families were supposed to check out of their hotels.

This is actually the third time FEMA has extended the program in just a week. They had given a 48-hour extension earlier because of a winter storm that hit the area on January 10.

In their post, FEMA mentioned that families checking out on January 14 would be returning to homes that are livable or had chosen to stop receiving assistance.

FEMA also shared that their Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program will continue through March for families that qualify. However, some households might lose their eligibility if their homes are deemed habitable after an inspection, if they skip the inspection, or if FEMA can’t reach them after several tries.

They started notifying families about their eligibility status on January 3. If anyone still needs help with housing, FEMA encourages them to call 800-621-3362.

The Black Mountain Manufactured Home Community in Swannanoa was hit hard by the storm, and many residents are still feeling the effects.

Local volunteers are stepping up to help keep people in hotels during this tough winter weather. It’s a tough situation, especially with so many still displaced and some even living in campers.

Jacob Biba, a reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, is keeping an eye on this situation. You can reach him at jacobbiba@citizentimes.com.