More than 2,700 North Carolina individuals and families displaced by Hurricane Helene will continue to receive housing assistance through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, with stays extended until May 26. This extension provides additional time for recovery efforts in the aftermath of the devastating storm.
In a Sunday letter to North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, Brett Howard, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer and manager of Disaster Recovery, confirmed the extension. This decision came in response to a request from Stein, a first-term Democrat, to extend the program beyond its initial timeline. Under FEMA policy, the TSA program was originally approved for 180 days, with an end date of March 26. With the new extension, hotel stays will continue until Memorial Day, providing critical support to families still recovering from the disaster.
Governor Stein expressed gratitude for the extension, stating, “Today’s decision will help eligible disaster survivors stay safe and sheltered as we continue the hard work of rebuilding in western North Carolina.” He emphasized that the extension alleviates concerns about housing stability for those affected.
Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on September 26 as a Category 4 storm in Dekle Beach, Florida, caused widespread destruction across seven states, including North Carolina. The storm claimed 104 lives in the state and 233 nationwide. Helene brought more than 30 inches of rain in some areas, resulting in catastrophic flooding and over $53 billion in estimated damages.
Federal aid has included approximately $9 billion in FEMA assistance as part of a $110 billion relief package signed by President Joe Biden in December. State contributions have exceeded $1.1 billion from three legislative relief packages, with additional funding anticipated.
The TSA program has undergone multiple extensions due to ongoing recovery needs. Initially set to expire in January, the program was extended several times following requests from state and federal leaders. This most recent extension through Memorial Day provides displaced families additional time to secure long-term housing solutions.
The extension of the TSA program underscores the importance of federal and state coordination in disaster recovery. As North Carolina continues its efforts to rebuild, this support ensures that survivors have a safe place to stay while communities work to recover from the lasting impacts of Hurricane Helene.
