PEMBROKE, NC (WBTW) – Former President Bill Clinton spoke at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke Wednesday afternoon in support of his wife and to tour the flood-ravaged city of Lumberton.
During his speech the former president told stories of those he visited living in shelters.
“I met a woman who was wheel chair bound, who was in a senior center on the first floor and now she doesn’t know if she can go back yet because they don’t know if the building is safe. I met a man who could not see. I met another man whose legs had been removed above the knee and their all living there,” said Former President Bill Clinton.
The former president says he also visited close friends. He says the family suffered some losses but got help because they were able to drive an hour away to get access to the internet to apply for FEMA.
“But if you have to call and do all this stuff and use older technology in which everybody in a place like Lumberton has to do because they don’t have internet access and a lot of them don’t have a car to drive somewhere well then it’s not working so well, that’s not right,” he said.
People who need a place to live while repairs are made on their homes should sign up with FEMA for help. The ways to sign up are:
- Calling the FEMA helpline number is 800-621-3362 or TTY at 800-462-7585
- Registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or at FEMA.gov by using a tablet.
- Visiting a disaster recovery center to get face-to-face assistance. To find the nearest center, go to the DRC locator.
