NC Emergency Management
Hurricane Helene Resources
Declarations
Federal Disaster Declaration, September 28, 2024
- Amendment 001 to Federal Disaster Declaration, October 2, 2024 (added permanent work under the Pubilc Assistance program to affected areas)
- Amendment 002 to Federal Disaster Declaration, October 4, 2024 (added Mecklenburg and Swain counties for Individual Assistance and debris removal and emergency protective measures under Public Assistance program)
- Amendment 003 to Federal Disaster Declaration, October 15, 2024 (added multiple counties for various specified assistance)
- Map: FEMA-4827-DR, North Carolina Disaster Declaration as of 10/15/2024
Governor Cooper Executive Order No. 315, September 24, 2024
Chief Justice Newby Emergency Order, September 29, 2024
Template Local Declarations
- Template Local State of Emergency Declaration (template Word .docx format)
- Template Termination of State of Emergency (template Word .docx format)
- Template Municipal Consent to County Declaration (use if municipality wishes to be covered under county declaration; municipality can also be listed in county declaration upon request of the Mayor)
Office Hours and School of Government Experts
School of Government Expertise
For a list of topics and the School of Government faculty and staff with expertise in these topics, visit sog.unc.edu/resources/microsites/nc-emergency-management/emergency-preparedness-and-disaster-assistance-school-government-fields-expertise.
FEMA Procurement Training
The UNC School of Government is partnering with FEMA’s Procurement Disaster Assistance Team (PDAT) to offer two trainings on federal procurement standards applicable to local governments (2 C.F.R. §§ 200.317 – 200.327). The target audience for these trainings is FEMA award recipients and subrecipients in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene. This includes state, tribal, and local government representatives, as well as nonprofit organization staff and other non-federal entity partners supporting response and recovery efforts under DR-4827-NC.
- October 29: Procurement Under Grants 101 (PUG) Training, October 29, 2024 — 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST. This training provides an overview of the federal procurement standards for recipients and subrecipients when purchasing under a FEMA grant. Register here
- October 31: Exigency or Emergency (E&E) Training, October 31, 2024 — 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST. This training educates recipients and subrecipients on the federal procurement standards applicable when purchasing during exigency or emergency circumstances. Register here
Recovery Permitting and Planning Office Hours
The School, along with partner agencies and organizations, is hosting weekly office hours for local government questions about permitting, development regulations, floodplain management, and resilience planning. Wednesdays, 1:00-2:00; Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/99462023499; Meeting ID: 994 6202 3499
Recovery Finance Office Hours
Below is a list of office hours to assist with budgeting, revenues, finance, grants, accounting, utilities, and reimbursements related to the Helene hurricane disaster response.
- Wednesday, October 30, 12:00-1:00
- Monday, November 4. 8:30-9:30
- Thursday, November 14, 12:00-1:00
- Monday & Tuesday, November 18-19, 9-1pm: Disaster Response Training
- Wednesday, November 20, 8:30-9:30
- Monday, November 25, 8:30-9:30
https://zoom.us/j/95481909044?pwd=UlE2VHNhN2luS0JEYTJqeTZTMFRWdz09
Meeting ID: 954 8190 9044; Passcode: 779726
Mutual Aid
The North Carolina Mutual Aid System is a voluntary agreement among North Carolina local governments to share resources during a disaster. All 100 counties, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and nearly three-fourths of the 650 municipalities have signed the mutual aid agreement.
Public Assistance
The FEMA Public Assistance Program provides supplemental grants to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments and some private nonprofits so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.
We will post more information and guidance as they become available.
Procurement Guidance
Note: FEMA issued a memorandum that applies the 2024 revisions to the Uniform Guidance to Hurricane Helene declarations, regardless of the date of declaration. You can read about the 2024 revisions in this School of Government blog post and in this FEMA fact sheet.
Links
- FEMA Procurement Disaster Assistance Team (PDAT) resources
- FEMA Contracting Checklist
- FEMA Procurement Guidance
- FEMA and State Procurement Requirements Cross-Walk (2024 version)
Documents
Debris Removal
- NC Emergency Management Shares Debris Cleanup Guidelines
- NCEM, Debris Managment for Local Government. Local governments and state agencies can use prepositioned disaster debris removal and monitoring contracts.
- NCDEQ Emergency/Disaster Debris Management
- Public Assistance Debris Monitoring Guide (March 2021)
- FEMA Fact Sheet: Public Assistance: Category A - Debris Removal including Private Property Debris (May 2023)
We will post more information and guidance as they become available.
Damage Assessments
- NCEM, Hazard Mitigation Section, Helene Floodplain Management Resources
- NCDPS, National Flood Insurance Program Flood Damage Assessment Package, 2022 Update. Includes Information On: Pre-Disaster Steps to Take; Actions Following a Flood; High Water Mark Documentation; Substantial Damage Determinations; Sample Letters and Notices; Information on Mitigation Programs; Contact Information
- FEMA Substantial Damage Quick Guide. When structures inside the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) are damaged, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) participating communities have a responsibility to assess impacts before repairs can be made, no matter the cause of damage.
- Sample Damage Assement Presentation, Town of Waynesville, October 2024
Permitting for Recovery
- NC Building Inspection Association Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). Requests for DART assistance should be routed through County Emergency Operation Center coordinators so that FEMA can track and reimburse resources. Emergency Management will then route requests for assistance to OSFM and then forward to the NCBIA so they can provide names from their list of volunteers.
- For floodplain matters, the NC Association of Floodplain Managers and NCEM are compiling a list of volunteers. If your community is impacted and you need assistance, please let us know, so we can share the list of volunteers. Steve Garrett, State NFIP Coordinator, Steve.Garrett@ncdps.gov, 919-825-2316; Eryn Futral, Eastern NFIP Planner, Eryn.Futral@ncdps.gov, 919-819-1734; Matt Stillwagon, Central NFIP Planner, Matthew.Stillwagon@ncdps.gov, 919-825-2289; Terry Foxx, Western NFIP Planner, Terry.Foxx@ncdps.gov, 828-228-8526.
North Carolina's construction licensing boards advise and urge the citizens of WNC to be vigilant and take necessary precautions when hiring contractors for repair and reconstruction work. Here's a letter and brochure with guidance and contacts.
Mapping and Planning Resources
NOAA Hurricane Helene Before and After (arcgis.com) Online Mapping with slider tool to compare before and after
- NCDOT Imagery and Damage Assessment Photo Access Request. This form is intended to be used by local governments only in response to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. All access requests must be verified and approved.
Local Government Recovery Topics and Resources
Emergency Management Law in North Carolina
A summary of Emergency Management Law in North Carolina is available in Norma Houston's chapter in the forthcoming edition of County and Municipal Government in North Carolina.
Liability
- Liability in Emergency Management Quick Guide
- Blog: Liability Issues in Emergency Management for Local Governments
Mutual Aid
Emergency Meetings and Public Information
- Blog: Misinformation and Threats on Social Media in the Wake of Hurricane Helene: How Local Governments Can Respond
- Blog: Misinformation and Threats in the Wake of Hurricane Helene: How Local Governments Can Respond – Part 2 (Public Meetings)
- Blog: New Rules for Meetings of Public Bodies During State-Level Declared Emergencies
- Blog: Clarification of Rules for Remote Meetings Under State Level State of Emergency: No More Waiting 24 Hours After Public Hearings!
- Blog: Remote Zoning Hearings During Declared Emergencies
Tax and Damage Assessment
- Blog: Local Tax Issues Following a Natural Disaster
- Blog: North Carolina Assessors and Disaster Recovery
Finance
- Blog: Performing a Cost or Price Analysis under the Uniform Guidance
- Blog: Emergency and Exigency According to FEMA
- Blog: FEMA Emergency Work (Categories A and B)
- Blog: Hiring Retired Local Government Staff to Aid in Helene Response
- Blog: Budgeting for FEMA Reimbursements, Preauditing Expenditures, Contracting Authority, and Managing Cash Flow During a Disaster
- Blog: Using ARPA/CSLFRF Funds for Hurricane Helene Disaster Response (Outside of Revenue Replacement Category)
- Blog: Local Government Soliciting and Receiving Donations During an Emergency
Public Health
- Slides:Health Information Confidentiality and Emergencies
- Blog: Access to Pharmacies and Prescription Refills after Hurricane Helene
- Blog: The Role of a Director of Social Services in the Disposition of Unclaimed Bodies
Infrastructure
- Blog: NCWaterWARN: What It Is and How to Access This Vital Resource
- Blog: Resuming Water and Wastewater Service After a Major Disruption
- Blog: Can Counties and Cities Close Roads During an Emergency?
Planning, Permitting, and Temporary Housing
- Blog: Planning and Permitting Aspects of Helene Recovery Legislation
- Blog: Adjusting Development Regulations for Disaster Recovery
- Blog: Hit the Pause Button: Temporary Development Moratoria in North Carolina
- Blog: Temporary Housing and Zoning Amendments
- FEMA Possible Sheltering and Housing Options
Grant Opporunities
- LOI Deadline Extended to December 20, 2024. Building Infrastructure in Communities (BRIC) grant program and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program. This can be for shovel-ready construction projects that mitigate the risk of a natural hazard to public infrastructure or plans and studies to help develop future projects (called Capabilities & Capacity Building or C&CB proposals).
Additional State and Federal Resources for Local Governments
- NC Department of Public Safety Hurricane Helene Resources
- NC Department of Public Saftery Disaster Recovery Resources and FAQs
- NC Association of County Commissioners' Hurricane Helene Resources
- NC League of Municipalities' NCLM Hurricane Helene 411
- NC Office of Recovery and Resilience
Individual Assistance
NC DPS: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Your Property
- NC Department of Insurance Victim Assistance Centers and Insurance Camps provide in-person and on-the-ground recovery assistance and insurance-related support to those directly impacted by Hurricane Helene.
- North Carolina's construction licensing boards advise and urge the citizens of WNC to be vigilant and take necessary precautions when hiring contractors for repair and reconstruction work. Here's a letter and brochure with guidance and contacts.