One month after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across parts of the Southeast and Appalachia, the White House said the Biden-Harris administration remains deeply engaged in recovery efforts, committing federal resources to assist survivors and rebuild devastated communities.聽
To date, the administration said it has delivered over $2.1 billion in federal assistance, encompassing aid for both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which impacted Florida soon after.
According to a White House fact sheet, the federal aid includes more than $1 billion directed to help individuals and families with housing repairs, personal property replacement, and essential recovery needs. An additional $1.1 billion in Public Assistance funding is being used to support state and local governments in removing debris, ensuring emergency response measures, and providing critical resources, such as shelter, food, and water.
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other senior administration officials have maintained close coordination with state and local leaders before, during, and after the storms, visiting impacted areas to assess damage and determine further federal support priorities.
On Oct. 26, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall met with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, FEMA, and philanthropic organizations in North Carolina, all of which serves to enhance the speed and effectiveness of recovery efforts.
Currently, nearly 5,000 federal personnel are deployed in North Carolina and Florida, working alongside state and local officials to support recovery operations. FEMA has delivered over 11 million meals and 9.6 million liters of water to affected communities, and 65 Disaster Recovery Centers are now open to provide in-person assistance to survivors, with 21 centers located in North Carolina alone.
The National Guard and Department of Defense also have played a significant role in recovery efforts, conducting over 1,600 ground and air missions to distribute humanitarian aid, remove debris, and clear hundreds of miles of roadway. Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has deployed more than 450 personnel across six states, addressing debris removal, power restoration, infrastructure assessments, and ensuring the safety of local waterways.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has also extended support by providing accelerated Medicare payments to aid healthcare facilities impacted by the storm. In North Carolina, HHS is working with Baxter International to restore IV fluid production at its damaged facility, with production expected to resume shortly.
The Department of Education is partnering with disaster-affected states to evaluate school damage, restore learning conditions, and support displaced students, ensuring that student borrowers in impacted areas are placed on natural disaster forbearance to ease their financial burden.
Agricultural support has also been prioritized, with the USDA allocating $233 million to assist farmers during the harvest season. Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits are available in several affected states, providing vital food assistance to impacted residents.
In infrastructure recovery, the Environmental Protection Agency is working closely with water utilities to restore safe drinking water and wastewater services, deploying mobile testing labs and removing hazardous materials. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has assisted in airspace recovery and provided $144 million in emergency highway relief funding to several states for immediate repairs.
To address housing challenges, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced it has issued a 90-day foreclosure moratorium on FHA-insured mortgages in disaster-affected areas, with additional financing options available for homeowners needing to repair or rebuild.
The IRS has extended tax filing deadlines for impacted individuals and businesses until May 2025, and Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available for eligible workers in several states.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has tentatively approved over $51 million in disaster loan funding for survivors, with hundreds of personnel assisting with applications and customer support across the region.
Biden said the administration will support the people affected 鈥渇or as long as it takes鈥 to rebuild stronger, more resilient communities.