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Federal disaster assistance is available to the states of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia to help jumpstart recovery efforts.

You can apply for assistance in three ways:

• online by visiting disasterassistance.gov
• call 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.
• download the FEMA app

Safety is the number one priority after any storm. Be careful in areas with damage, flooding and power outages.

• Avoid wading or driving through floodwaters inside, outside and around your home.
• Use generators safely – keep them outside and far away from your home.
• Clean up safely – wear protective clothing and gear, use a mask and ask for help moving heavy debris.

Find more post-storm safety tips on Ready.gov.

• Volunteer to help. Sign up to volunteer with a reputable group or organization. Do not go by yourself to a disaster area. Look up volunteer opportunities on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website. 
• Cash is the best donation. It’s important to donate responsibly. When people support voluntary organizations with financial contributions, it helps ensure a steady flow of important services to the people in need after a disaster.
• Identify what is needed. Before donating supplies connect with organizations working in the affected area to find out how much is needed and when it is needed.

Use these resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):

Sometimes help can’t wait. If you or someone you know is in danger or having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.  Access the 988 Crisis Lifeline by dialing/texting 988 or chatting at 988lifeline.org. You will speak with a crisis counselor any time of day or night.

The helpline is open to anyone experiencing emotional distress related to disasters. This includes survivors of disasters; loved ones of victims; first responders; rescue, recovery, and relief workers; clergy; and parents and caregivers. You may call for yourself or on behalf of someone else.

You can call the toll-free, multilingual Disaster Distress Helpline for confidential counseling, referrals and other support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call or text 1-800-985-5990. Spanish speakers should press “2”. Deaf and hard of hearing ASL callers can connect directly to an American Sign Language agent, through ASL Now or by calling 1-800-985-5990 from your videophone.

Disaster-Related Tools