COLLMBIA, SC (WBTW) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has now approved 17 counties in South Carolina for individual assistance in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.
Among other things, that aid allows victims to apply for aid, which can include money for temporary housing help, essential home repairs for primary homes and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.
Among the 17 counties: Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Lee, Sumter, Williamsburg and Marion.
As of right now, Horry County is not on the list.
Derrec Becker, the Public Information Officer for the South Carolina Emergency Management Division wouldn’t comment specifically on Horry County but he did tell News13 the list “is a progressive process…and as more damage assessments are completed, look for more counties to be added.”Here is the release from the SCEMD:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved fifteen additional counties for Individual Assistance, allowing survivors who sustained losses to apply for aid in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Counties approved for FEMA Individual Assistance include: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Jasper, Lee, Sumter and Williamsburg.
Assistance can include money for temporary rental assistance and essential home repairs for primary homes, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help survivors recover from the effects of the disaster.
Marion and Orangeburg counties were previously designated for Individual Assistance.
Survivors can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. Disaster assistance applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing should call 800-462-7585 (TTY); those who use Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 7 AM to 10 PM seven days a week until further notice.
Six counties were also approved for categories A and B of Public Assistance to help them recover from the storm: Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Hampton, Lee and Sumter. This assistance from FEMA enables state agencies, local governments and certain private non-profits to recoup costs for storm response and debris removal.
The FEMA Public Assistance program categories are as follows:
Category A: Debris Removal.
Category B: Emergency Protective Measures.
Category C: Roads and Bridges.
Category D: Water Control Facilities.
Category E: Buildings and Equipment.
Category F: Utilities.
Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities and Other Items.
The FEMA Public Assistance program is a reimbursement grant program. Typically, the federal share is 75 percent and the state or local governments pay the remaining 25 percent whereas eligible private non-profit groups are responsible for the full 25 percent.
Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, Marion, and Williamsburg counties were previously designated for Public Assistance.
