This press release was published by the Legal Services Corporation. Click here to view the release on their website.

WASHINGTON—The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today that it is awarding $4.35 million to Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) to support the delivery of legal services to low-income people impacted by Hurricane Isaias, Tropical Storm Eta, Tropical Storm Fred and other severe weather events the state faced in 2020 and 2021.   

LANC is one of 19 organizations around the country receiving grants for natural disasters faced in 2020 and 2021. Congress included $40 million for LSC in a $28.6 billion emergency supplemental appropriation attached to the September 2021 Continuing Resolution to fund the government in FY 2022. 

Survivors of natural disasters often require immediate legal assistance to file for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance and insurance benefits and to deal with related evictions, unemployment and document replacement. Legal challenges can haunt survivors for years. Cases involving FEMA appeals, bankruptcy, public housing and domestic violence will arise, and disaster victims can be vulnerable to fraud or scams.  

“Low-income people who confront civil legal issues in the wake of natural disasters face an uphill battle, and they shouldn’t have to go it alone,” said LSC President Ronald S. Flagg. “We are grateful that Congress recognizes the need for legal assistance in these recovering communities and provided this funding that will help our neighbors repair and stay in their homes, obtain key identification documents, apply for benefits and so much more.” 

LANC will use this grant to grow its disaster relief program, creating two teams to serve the eastern and western regions of North Carolina. Each team will include a supervising attorney, three staff attorneys and two paralegals. The grant will also fund four additional full-time positions that will contribute to the success of the disaster relief project.   

A primary focus of LANC’s legal work will be building resiliency by solving property ownership issues. In addition to handling cases, LANC staff will focus on community education and outreach—not just to community members, but also to community partners, charitable organizations, and recovery programs.  

Members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation voiced their support for Legal Aid of North Carolina’s work to help disaster survivors. 

“People hit with natural disasters often suffer devastating losses and lack the ability to afford the legal assistance they need to recover,” said Rep. Kathy Manning (NC-6). “Legal Aid North Carolina helps more than 25,000 people each year by educating them about their rights, offering legal advice, and representing clients in disputes. I’m pleased to announce this $4,350,000 grant will help Legal Aid North Carolina assist additional North Carolinians who have been impacted by recent natural disasters.”

“The aftermath of a disaster can leave survivors navigating a series of complex processes when filing insurance claims, replacing lost documents, or applying for FEMA assistance. Access to legal assistance is a critical, but often overlooked, aspect of disaster recovery,” said Rep. David Price (NC-4). “I am pleased that the Legal Services Corporation is awarding this grant of $4.35 million to Legal Aid of North Carolina, which will be used to fund essential legal assistance for North Carolinians recovering from the impact of Hurricane Isaias, Tropical Storm Eta, and Tropical Storm Fred.” 

“Legal Aid of North Carolina offers indispensable assistance to North Carolinians, advocating for our most vulnerable during times of hardship,” said Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-2). “As extreme weather worsens, this grant will ensure the organization can better support those who are disproportionately burdened by the negative effects of climate change across North Carolina. From helping disaster survivors recover legal documents to assisting individuals with insurance claims, I know Legal Aid of North Carolina will continue offering vital support with this funding. I thank the Legal Services Corporation for recognizing their essential work.”

A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for survivors of Tropical Storm Fred 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 1-866-219-5262 ext. 2657. 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.

Examples of legal assistance available include:

• Assistance with securing FEMA and other benefits available to disaster survivors

• Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims

• Help with home repair contracts and contractors

• Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster

• Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures

• Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems

• Counseling on landlord/tenant problems

The hotline is available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 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). Such cases will be referred to the North Carolina Lawyer Referral Service at 800-662-7660.

Major Disaster Declaration

A total of three North Carolina counties have been approved to receive federal assistance in the wake of Tropical Storm Fred. The counties are Buncombe, Haywood and Transylvania (additional counties may be added later).

People who sustained property damage as a result of Tropical Storm Fred are urged to register with FEMA, as they may be eligible for federal and state disaster assistance. People can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY) from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Tropical Storm Fred survivors are also encouraged to call the FEMA hotline to report their damage. Other resources may be found on www.legalaidnc.org/disaster.

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 the disaster Web page at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4617, Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion4 and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website at http://www.ncdps.gov/.

Beware of Fraud

Both FEMA and the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office are warning North Carolina residentsof 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 to 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). Such cases are referred to the NC Lawyer Referral Service at 800-662-7660.

Partner Organizations

The following organizations have joined forces to establish a toll-free phone line for North Carolina Tropical Storm Fred 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.

National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center – The National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center, or DisasterLegalAid.org (DLA), is a national online resource with self-help tools and free legal information for individuals and communities impacted by natural disasters. It is a collaborative effort of Lone Star Legal Aid, Pro Bono Net, the American Bar Association, the Legal Services Corporation, and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association.

Media contacts:

• Bryan Alexander, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Development & Public Relations Associate, 404-273-3104, bryana@legalaidnc.org
• Kim Bart Mullikin, North Carolina Bar Association, Foundation Senior Director, 919-677-0561, DLS@ncbar.org
• Brandon McPherson, American Bar Association, ABA YLD District 9 Rep., 919-896-3397, brandonlmcpherson@gmail.com

Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Disaster Relief Project will be on site at the Pender County Long Term Recovery Group Disaster Preparedness Expo on July 17 to help survivors of Hurricane Florence prepare wills and advanced directives and to provide information about the other disaster-related legal services that the organization offers.  

The expo will take place at the Joint Community Center at 17808 NC Hwy 210 in Rocky Point from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

“Property ownership and estate planning are probably not the first things that come to mind when preparing for hurricane season, but they can be critical factors to recovery after a storm,” said Dale Deese, managing attorney of Legal Aid’s Disaster Relief Project. “In fact, estate planning documents can provide certainty for you and your heirs if disaster strikes and you end up in an extended recovery process. We are excited to be at the expo to provide this service as well as information about additional ways Legal Aid may be able to help with disaster recovery in Pender County.”  

Legal Aid may be able to draft a simple will or deed on site at the expo for eligible Hurricane Florence survivors who want to make sure that ownership of their home and land is clear and that their home and land will go to the person that they want to inherit it. Legal Aid’s services are free of charge. While walk-ins are welcome, advanced sign up is preferred. Please call Tommy Johnson at (984) 297-1977 or Michelle Green at (910) 623-1933 to sign up and secure a spot.  

Legal Aid is helping survivors of Hurricane Florence access recovery assistance for damage to their homes sustained during the storm, and may also be able to help when other legal issues arise during the recovery process.  For those who would like to learn more about Legal Aid’s services and eligibility, call the Legal Aid helpline at 866-219-5262. 

###

About  
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Legal Aid’s Disaster Relief Project provides legal assistance and education to survivors of natural disasters in North Carolina and supports community economic development and long-term recovery in disaster-impacted communities.  

To help ensure North Carolinians are prepared for this upcoming hurricane season, Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Disaster Relief Project is holding free events for Craven and Jones county residents aimed at helping eligible North Carolinians overcome the legal issues that could be a barrier to recovery from a storm.    

“While property ownership and estate planning may not immediately come to mind when thinking about preparing for hurricane season, they can be critical aspects of recovery after a storm,” said Dale Deese, managing attorney of Legal Aid’s Disaster Relief Project. “These events are a great opportunity to learn more about how Legal Aid can help with disaster recovery and also access some of our services directly at the events.”  

Legal Aid will partner with the Craven County Disaster Recovery Alliance on Saturday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Havelock for a drop-in informational event focused on heir property, property that has been passed down within families informally and not through a will. Legal Aid representatives will be available at the event to provide general information about how property ownership issues can arise when seeking recovery funds following a storm and can screen individuals on site for eligibility for Legal Aid’s free services. 

On May 22, Legal Aid will partner with The Father’s Refuge to provide estate planning services to survivors of Hurricane Florence. Individuals who are eligible for Legal Aid’s services will be able to get help drafting and executing end-of-life documents such as wills and powers of attorney free of charge. The Father’s Refuge will also be providing food and use of their campgrounds during the event. The event will take place at 9210 Hwy 55 W., Dover, NC 28526 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. While walk-ins are welcome, Legal Aid encourages people to register in advance by calling (984) 297-1977 to reach Legal Aid or (252) 497-8783 to reach Scott Murphy at The Father’s Refuge.  

Both events will take place outdoors, and masks and social distancing will be enforced. 

About 
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Legal Aid’s Disaster Relief Project provides legal assistance and education to survivors of natural disasters in North Carolina and supports community economic development and long-term recovery in disaster-impacted communities. Call the Legal Aid NC helpline at 866-219-5262 or visit legalaidnc.org/apply to learn about eligibility for our services and to get Legal Aid’s assistance.