Severe Weather Resource Page

Severe Weather Resource Page

FEMA

Apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster assistance by visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-3362, or on the FEMA App.

Individual assistance is available for those in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Edgefield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation.  More counties are likely to be added to this list.

Public Assistance (Assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities) is available for  Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chester, Colleton, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, Williamsburg, and York counties, and the Catawba Indian Nation for debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B), including direct federal assistance. Federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance has been increased to 100 percent of the total eligible costs for a period of 90 days of the State’s choosing within the first 120 days from the start of the incident period.

FEMA has created a Rumor Control page specific to Hurricane Helene to help keep survivors safe and aware of rumors and scams.

Please help us in amplifying official information from trusted sources and discouraging others from sharing information from unverified sources.

Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response |  FEMA.gov

 

SBA

Two business recovery centers have opened in SC. The SBA is opening the Centers to assist businesses and residents who were affected by Hurricane Helene.   SBA’s Customer Service Representatives are available at the Centers to answer questions, assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an inperson appointment at an SBA Business Recovery Center in advance. The Centers will operate as listed below.  

Business Recovery Center (BRC)  
Lexington County   
Lexington County Library  
5440 Augusta Road  
Lexington, SC 29072  
  
Opens:        Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  
Hours:          Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  
                         Friday – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  
                        Saturday – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed:        Sunday  

Business Recovery Center (BRC)  
Greenville County   
Next Innovation Center  
411 University Ridge  
Greenville, SC 29601  
  
Opens:       Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  
Hours:        Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  
                      Saturday – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed:      Sunday  

With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover.  FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition.  Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.    

Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.  
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 29, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2025.  

To apply: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

To contact a local SBA office in SC https://www.sba.gov/district/south-carolina

SC Department of Employment and Workforce

Contact for unemployment questions https://dew.sc.gov/

Phone 866-831-1724

The South Carolina DUA program provides funds to assist people who became unemployed as a direct result of Hurricane Helene, the effects of which began September 25, 2024. DUA is also available to small business owners and the self-employed, including 1099 contract workers, who have lost personal income due to the disaster.

If you lost work or were unemployed as a direct result of Hurricane Helene, then please go to the MyBenefits Portal to apply for unemployment insurance and determine your eligibility for DUA. You can also visit dew.sc.gov and click the MyBenefits Login in the first circle of the homepage to apply through the unemployment insurance benefits system. For help, please call 1-866-831-1724. The deadline to apply for DUA benefits is Monday, December 2, 2024.

SC Department of Social Services https://dss.sc.gov/

If you are a current SNAP recipient and you lost food as a result of Hurricane Helene and/or power outage lasting more than four (4) hours, you can apply for a replacement of your SNAP benefits in person or by emailing the required information to your local county DSS office (click Contact Us for a listing of DSS County Office email addresses). You may download and complete an Affidavit of Loss Due To A Household Misfortune (DSS Form 1634B) from the SC Department of Social Services website (click here to download). In addition to the DSS Form 1634B, recipients must provide some form of verification to substantiate that your home was in the affected area. SNAP households have until October 26, 2024, to report food loss resulting from Hurricane Helene.

SC Office of Regulatory Assistance   https://ors.sc.gov/

Working on providing power outage template letters based on zip codes to provide to DSS for SNAP replacement benefits

USDA

USDA offers a variety of programs to help farmers, ranchers, communities, and businesses that have affected by natural disaster events. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/index

Info on hurricane recovery https://www.farmers.gov/protection-recovery/hurricane

Phone 877-508-8364

VA

The VA offers a range of services for Veterans, in addition to those mentioned above including the following:

  1. Prevent fraud and housing scams by following VSAFE best practices during natural disasters or emergencies. 
  2. VA’s Employee Assistance Program provides counseling and referrals for all employees and their immediate family members.
  3. The VA National Chaplain Service offers spiritual guidance and grief support. Contact your nearest VA Medical facility Chaplain or reach out to VANationalChaplainStaff@va.gov.
  4. For 24/7 crisis assistance, Veterans can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 (Press 1), by texting 838255, or through the online chat. All others can contact the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988 or through the online chat.
  5. For any other concerns, Veterans can call MyVA411 24/7 at 1-800-698-2411 and press 0 to speak to an agent immediately.

IRS

Taxpayers in all of SC now have until May 1, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. Among other things, this includes 2024 individual and business returns normally due during March and April 2025, 2023 individual and corporate returns with valid extensions and quarterly estimated tax payments.  

SC Department of Environmental Services   https://des.sc.gov/

Hotline number for any individuals with questions on their well water and information on how to obtain a test kit to confirm their well water is safe to drink  please call 888-761-5989.

Electric Power Outage Updates and Reporting Downed Lines

Duke Energy https://outagemaps.duke-energy.com/#/current-outages/ncsc

Dominion Energy https://outagemap.dominionenergysc.com/

Electric Cooperatives of SC https://outages.ecsc.org/outages/maps

To Report Downed Power Lines

Duke Energy 800-228-8485

Dominion Energy 888-333-4465

SC Electric Cooperatives 803-796-6060

SC Department of Public Health

Those dependent on medical equipment at home and without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. This includes people who have medical conditions that require electricity support and/or use a hospital bed/specialized medical bed at home. To find out if you are eligible for a medical needs shelter, call the DPH Care Line at 1-855-472-3432

MUSC

MUSC Health is here to help. We are offering free virtual Urgent Care services through our MUSC Telehealth networks. Using the code MUSCRECOVER, anyone in South Carolina can quickly and easily connect with a trusted MUSC provider from the safety and comfort of their home or current housing location. Offer good through October 31. Go to musc.care

SCEMD

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) Public Information Phone System is available 24 hours a day. Call 1-866-246-0133 for information about shelters, resources and other information.

Please take photos of any damage you may have for documentation and insurance purposes.

Contact the SCEMD at 866-246-0133 or at scemd.org

Find your county emergency manager https://www.scemd.org/who-we-are/county-emergency-managers/

How to find an emergency shelter https://www.scemd.org/stay-informed/emergency-shelters/

For assistance with cleanup please contact the SC Crisis Cleanup Hotline at (844) 965-1386

211

Public Resource Assistance Directory-Find resources and help at sc211.org

American Red Cross

Get help by calling 800-733-2767 or visit their website at https://www.redcross.org/local/south-carolina.html

You can find resources to locate loved one or find an open shelter or essential relief services

SC Department of Insurance

For Insurance Issues https://www.doi.sc.gov/

Phone 803-737-6160

SC Department of Transportation

Info on road closures https://www.scdot.org/travel/travel-road.html

SC Department of Commerce

Contact for disaster recovery for businesses in SC assistance by phone at 803-737-0400 or https://www.sccommerce.com/state-economy/emergency-management

SC Election Commission https://scvotes.gov/

SC voter registration deadline has been extended to October 14