As a result of Hurricane Helene, Beaufort County has been awarded an Individual Assistance (IA) Declaration under the Major Disaster Declaration issued by President Biden for South Carolina on September 29, 2024.

Obtaining the IA declaration is the result of multiple county departments working together to provide residential storm damage information to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division and FEMA. Residents who have experienced uninsured damage or losses because of Hurricane Helene are now eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance to aid in their recovery.

The Individual Assistance program offers financial support for temporary housing, home repairs, and other disaster-related expenses that are not covered by insurance. 

How to Apply for Assistance:

Beaufort County residents affected by Hurricane Helene can register for FEMA assistance in the following ways:

• Online: Visit http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov to apply quickly and securely online.
• FEMA Helpline: Call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) for assistance with your application, available from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time, seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.
• FEMA App: Download the FEMA app to your smartphone to register and track the status of your application.

An IA Declaration also opens the possibility for businesses who experienced loss, including property damage and economic losses due to Hurricane Helene to qualify for assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). More information can be found at the SBA website: https://lending.sba.gov/