N.C. Gov. Notes More than 4,600 Applications Filed as Part of Hurricane Recovery Program

North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley announced recently that more than 4,600 applications for individual assistance were filed as part of the Operation Brighter Day hurricane recovery program. The program began taking applications on April 22 and concluded on June 17.

“We worked hard to reach storm victims and let them know that we were prepared to help with uninsured losses,” Easley said. “We will work to review applications as quickly as possible and get qualified applicants the funds they need to recover.”

Hurricane victims were encouraged to submit one application to cover all available individual assistance programs at Recovery Application Centers (RACs), which were located in N.C. Cooperative Extension Service centers in each of the 50 disaster-declared counties covered by the Hurricane Recovery Act of 2005.

A total of 4,627 applications were filed at RACs or by calling the Governor’s Hurricane Recovery Bilingual Hotline toll free at 1-888-835-9966 (TTY, 1-877-452-2514). The Hotline will remain open through Thursday, June 30. RACs are no longer taking applications.

Since April 22, a total of 2,221 requests were filed for housing damage, 1,372 for damage to private driveways and bridges, and 1,040 for agricultural loss.

Applications will be reviewed and claims verified during the next several weeks. The receipt of aid dollars for those who qualify should begin in mid- to late-August and probably not be complete for 18 months to two years.