The Disaster Legal Services program is a partnership among the North Carolina Bar
Association and Foundation, Legal Aid of North Carolina, American Bar Association, and FEMA
to assist North Carolina residents affected by natural disasters.

A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for survivors of Tropical Storm
Helene in North Carolina. Disaster Legal Services, which allows callers to request the
assistance of a lawyer, is a partnership between the North Carolina Bar Association and
Foundation, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division,
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Low-income survivors with disaster-related legal questions may call the disaster legal
assistance hotline at 866-219-5262. Callers should identify that they are seeking storm-related
legal assistance, ask for Disaster Legal Services assistance, and identify the county in which
they are located. Survivors who qualify for assistance will be matched with North Carolina
lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal help.

Legal assistance is available for the following issue areas:

• FEMA appeals
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance and other disaster benefits
• Insurance claims
• Home repair contracts and contractor disputes
• Contractor fraud and consumer protection matters
• Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster
• Mortgage-foreclosure
• Landlord/tenant problems

Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with North Carolina lawyers who have
volunteered to provide free, limited legal help. Survivors should be aware that there are some
limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will
produce a fee (i.e., those cases where fees are paid part of the settlement by the court).

Major Disaster Declaration
A total of 26 North Carolina counties and tribes have been approved to receive federal
assistance in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene. The counties are: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe,
Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson,
Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania,
Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (additional
counties may be added later).

People who sustained property damage, need immediate emergency assistance for essential
items (like food, baby formula, or water), or need immediate housing assistance as a result of
Tropical Storm Helene are urged to apply for FEMA assistance, as they may be eligible for
federal and state disaster assistance. People can apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Applicants may also call the FEMA Helpline (1-800-621-3362). Tropical Storm Helene survivors
are also encouraged to review Legal Aid of NC’s resource website at
www.legalaidnc.org/helene.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available for
eligible applicants. SBA helps businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofit
organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of
replacing lost or damaged personal property. Disaster loans cover losses not fully
compensated by insurance or other recoveries.

For more information, individuals may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service
Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s
website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-
877-8339.

For more information on North Carolina’s recovery, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4827
and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website at https://www.ncdps.gov/ourorganization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene.

Beware of Fraud
Both FEMA and the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office are warning North Carolina
residents of the risk of fraud and common scams in the wake of the severe weather. Common
post-disaster fraud practices include phony housing inspectors, fraudulent building
contractors, bogus pleas for disaster donations, and fake offers of state or federal aid. North
Carolinians are urged to ask questions and require identification when someone claims to
represent a government agency.

Survivors should also keep in mind that state and federal workers never ask for or accept
money, and always carry identification badges with a photograph. There is no fee required to
apply for or to receive disaster assistance from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA), or the state. Additionally, no state or federal government disaster assistance agency will
call to ask for your financial account information. Unless you place a call to the agency
yourself, you should not provide personal information over the phone as it can lead to identity
theft.

Those who suspect fraud can call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 (toll free).
Complaints may also be made to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office Consumer
Protection Hotline at 877-566-7226.

Background
When the U.S. President declares a major disaster, FEMA, in cooperation with the American Bar
Association Young Lawyers Division, helps to establish a toll-free number for disaster survivors
to request legal assistance. Funding for the toll-free line comes from FEMA under the authority
of Section 415 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency assistance Act (Public
Law 100-707). The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in turn partners with state
bar associations and other legal organizations to recruit volunteer lawyers in affected areas to
handle survivors’ cases. In North Carolina, the North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers
Division partners with Legal Aid of North Carolina to offer a disaster legal services hotline that
provides legal information and referrals for civil legal issues. Survivors should be aware that
there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available
for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the
settlement by the court).

Partner Organizations
The following organizations have joined forces to establish a toll-free phone line for North
Carolina Tropical Storm Helene survivors to request free legal assistance, and to provide
volunteer attorneys to handle cases arising from hurricane related damage.

North Carolina Bar Association and Foundation – The North Carolina Bar Association is a
voluntary organization of lawyers, paralegals and law students dedicated to serving the public
and the legal profession. The North Carolina Bar Foundation provides support to the Disaster
Legal Services pro bono project and North Carolina Bar Association volunteers. The NCBA
Young Lawyers Division, often referred to as the service arm of the NCBA, is involved in a
multitude of worthwhile projects and public service endeavors, including Disaster Legal
Services.

Legal Aid of North Carolina – Legal aid of North Carolina is a statewide, non-profit law firm
that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure access
to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division – The ABA YLD, the largest national
organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession,
and promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA,
is the national voice of the legal profession and one of the largest voluntary professional
membership groups in the world.

Federal Emergency Management Agency – FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role
in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all
domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. Through an
agreement with the American Bar Association, FEMA underwrites the cost of operating toll-free
legal assistance lines for survivors in areas designated as federal disaster sites.

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) celebrates the first anniversary of its Innovation Lab—the first of its kind within a legal services organization. The Innovation Lab was established to identify and implement creative solutions to bridge the justice gap and modernize legal service delivery. In its inaugural year, the lab has made remarkable progress, particularly in serving rural and underserved communities.

The Innovation Lab’s mission is rooted in tackling the two major challenges facing legal aid programs: securing resources to serve more people and developing cost-effective ways to deliver legal help. By integrating technology, human-centered design, and data-driven insights, the lab operates as a hub of creativity, partnering with community organizations, law schools, justice tech experts, and clients to find innovative solutions to systemic issues.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has recognized LANC’s innovative approach, highlighting it as a potential model for improving legal service delivery on its Talk Justice podcast, in an episode titled “The First Legal Aid Innovation Lab.” LSC has also supported this effort through a significant technology and innovation grant. The Innovation Lab serves as a blueprint for modernizing legal aid, offering practical strategies to better meet the needs of underserved communities across the country.

Over the past year, the lab has tackled barriers to access to justice through a variety of projects:

Key Achievements of the Innovation Lab:

1. LANC-LIA: In partnership with LawDroid, the lab launched an AI-powered virtual assistant, delivering high-quality legal information and easy access to resources for communities across North Carolina.
2. EZ Expunge Tool: The lab revamped the expunction petition process through a tech solution that helps individuals clear their criminal records, opening doors to new opportunities.
3. LANCMobile: A mobile legal services unit was deployed to bring on-the-go legal assistance to remote and underserved areas of the state.
4. LANC & Libraries: This partnership integrated legal resources and support services into local libraries, expanding access to justice for community members through a trusted, accessible institution.
5. Rural Innovation Hub: The lab launched this hub to collaborate with clients, local, and regional partners to create a model for delivering legal services to rural communities.
6. Innovation Olympics: The lab established the first-ever Innovation Olympics—a staff-driven program to foster a culture of creativity and cross-departmental collaboration.
7. Innovation Fund: Created to support ongoing and future innovation projects, the fund ensures the lab’s continuous efforts to push the boundaries of legal services delivery.

As the lab entered its second year, it launched the National Justice Tech Form—a crowdsourcing platform shaped by input from legal services programs nationwide. This initiative fosters collaboration in developing technology solutions to address access-to-justice gaps, strengthening partnerships between legal services and the broader legal and justice technology community.

Scheree Gilchrist, LANC’s chief innovation officer, said, “Our first year has been a remarkable journey in transforming how we deliver legal services. We are excited to continue innovating, addressing challenges, and sharing these solutions on a national scale.”

The need for innovations like these is immense. The U.S. legal system does not guarantee the right to a lawyer in civil matters, and studies show that 92% of civil legal issues among low-income Americans receive little to no assistance. In North Carolina, around two million residents eligible for LANC services still face access barriers, particularly in geographically isolated regions.

A Look Ahead: Expanding on the Foundational Vision

The Innovation Lab was first conceived to address the overwhelming demand for legal help in North Carolina, particularly through the modernization of LANC’s helpline, which receives more than 360,000 calls annually. Of these, 260,000 calls go unanswered due to capacity limitations. The lab’s inaugural project aimed to reimagine this entry point to legal services, enhancing how individuals can access help via multiple platforms like text messaging and community partner networks. This remains a core focus as the lab continues to innovate ways to better serve North Carolinians.

As the lab marks this milestone, it reaffirms its commitment to using cutting-edge technologies, collaborative solutions, and data-driven insights to bridge the justice gap and serve as a national leader in legal services innovation.

To learn more about the Innovation Lab and its mission, visit legalaidnc.org/innovation-lab.

Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) will host its annual Day of Giving on Sept. 25, 2024, a statewide campaign aimed at raising $100,000 to support vital legal services for individuals and families across all 100 counties in North Carolina. This year’s theme, #StandwithLANC, invites everyone to join the movement to support veterans, survivors of domestic violence, families, children, seniors, and others who cannot afford legal representation.

At LANC, we believe that access to justice is a right, not a privilege. Every donation helps us empower people who face life-altering challenges by providing them with critical legal support. The work we do changes lives—giving people the opportunity to stay in their homes, find safety, and secure brighter futures for themselves and their families.

How You Can Help:

1. Donate – Contributions can be made directly at legalaidnc.org/donate or on LANC’s Just Giving page.
2. Spread the Word – Share our social media posts or create your own using the hashtag #StandwithLANC. A toolkit with resources is available at legalaidnc.org/standwithlanc.
3. Create a JustGiving Page – Click “Start Fundraising” at JustGiving to create your own fundraiser in support of Legal Aid of North Carolina. Share your personal story of why you stand with us!

“Every donation brings us closer to closing the justice gap in North Carolina,” says Helen Hobson, chief communications officer at LANC. “The funds raised will enable us to provide life-changing legal support to more people, ensuring that all North Carolinians—regardless of income—have the opportunity for a fair and just outcome.”

Join Us Online:

• Facebook: facebook.com/LegalAidNC
• Instagram: instagram.com/legalaidnc
• Twitter: twitter.com/LegalAidNC
• TikTok: legalaid_nc
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/legal-aid-of-north-carolina/

About Legal Aid of North Carolina
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a nonprofit law firm dedicated to providing free legal services in civil matters to low-income individuals and families. Our mission is to ensure equal access to justice for all North Carolinians, regardless of income.

For more information about the Day of Giving, visit legalaidnc.org/standwithlanc or contact Helen Hobson at HelenH2@legalaidnc.org.