Disaster Relief

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How we help

​Legal Aid of North Carolina's Disaster Relief Project provides legal assistance and education to survivors of natural disasters in North Carolina. The project also supports community economic development and long-term recovery in disaster-impacted communities. Learn more on the Disaster Relief Project page. For more information, see our resources below. For assistance, contact our helpline at 866-219-5262 to learn if you qualify for Legal Aid's services.

Want to learn more about the disaster relief project and how we can help with recovery? Click here for details and registration for our free information sessions.

When you are recovering from a disaster, Legal Aid may be able to:

• Draft simple wills, deeds, and powers of attorney
  Draft simple wills, deeds, and powers of attorney for survivors of natural disasters. What does a will, deed, or power of attorney agreement have to do with recovery? 
• Clarify home ownership/heir property
  Help clarify home ownership for individual survivors, especially in situations of heir property. 
• Assist with benefits applications and appeals
  Advocate for clients in benefits applications and appeals processes, including ReBuild NC. 
• Discuss options for the FEMA recoupment process
  If FEMA asks for disaster relief money to be paid back because it is determined that an incorrect amount was issued following a disaster (this known as recoupment), Legal Aid attorneys can discuss options about how to proceed and may be able to help file an appeal. 
• Support victims of fraudulent contractors or bad-actor landlord
  Stand up for survivors who were victimized by fraudulent contractors or bad-actor landlords.

• Provide insurance policy assistance 
  Analyze insurance policy coverage to determine whether, and to what extent, losses should be covered, and possibly help you demand coverage under the policy.

• Assist community groups that support long-term recovery
  Provide legal services to community groups that support long-term recovery of low-income communities and households. 
• Help Florence survivors with more legal issues during recovery.
  Please contact Legal Aid’s helpline at 866-219-5262 to learn about our services and eligibility.

Disaster relief videos

Check out our library of over 50 videos on disaster relief issues. Topics include hurricane preparedness, flood recovery, tenant rights, food benefits, property insurance, heir property/clear title issues, FEMA benefits, consumer scams, replacing important government documents, estate planning and more. New videos are added weekly.