Letter From the Attorney General, Roy Cooper

A letter from the Attorney General, Roy Cooper, concerning scammers who target disaster victims.
Click here to read the letter.

President Declares A Major Disaster For North Carolina

President Declares A Major Disaster For North Carolina

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to North Carolina to supplement the state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding on April 16, 2011.

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Disaster Recovery Assistance Guide

Lee County has posted a Disaster Recovery Assistance Guide on the Lee County Website.

Click here to view the guide.

Emergency Meeting of the Lee County Board of Commissioners

Notice is hereby given that an emergency meeting of the Lee County Board of Commissioners will be held at 4p.m., Monday, April 25, 2011.  The purpose of the meeting is to receive additional information concerning the April 16th tornado and updated FEMA information. The meeting will take place in theCommissioners’ Room, First Floor, Lee County Government Center, 106 Hillcrest Drive, Sanford, North Carolina.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Information

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Information

We have attached the link to FEMA's website to start the process for disaster assistance. It includes a link to take a pre-survey questionnaire to determine your eligibility for disaster assistance. You can then create your account and start the process for assistance if eligible. Lee County's FEMA Disaster Recovery Center should be open today at the McSwain Center on Tramway Road sometime today, Friday, April 22, 2011. Once it's open we will publish that information. FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Website.

We have also included information below that addresses the information that can be obtained from the Disaster Recovery Website.
DisasterAssistance.gov provides information on how you might be able to get help from the U.S. Government before, during and after a disaster.
If the President of the United States makes help available to individuals in your community after a disaster, you can visit this site to apply online.

This site helps you:

•  Learn what help you might be able to apply for from 17 government agencies in Spanish and English
• Reduce the number of forms you have to fill out  
• Shorten the time it takes to apply for aid  
• Check the progress of your applications online 
• Continue to receive benefits from government programs even if you have to leave your home 
• Apply for help from FEMA online  
• Learn about Small Business Administration loans using an online application
• Have your Social Security benefits sent to a new address
• Find federal disaster recovery centers near your current address
• Search a list of housing available for rent
• Get information about your federal student loan
• Get help from the Department of State if you are affected by a disaster while living or traveling outside the U.S.

DisasterAssistance.gov also provides information to help you prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

You can:

• Get the latest news on declared disasters  
• Find information about:  
• Evacuating  
• Finding shelter 
• Getting food and water
• Getting medical services
• Locating loved ones
• Recovering and rebuilding the areas of your life that were affected by the disaster
• Locate resources in your community that can help you move forward.

Press Release #8 - FEMA Disaster Recovery Team

The FEMA Disaster Recovery Team has arrived in Lee County. Friday morning the Team began setting up at the Ruby McSwain Center at 2420 Tramway Road. The Disaster Recovery Center will be fully operational by Noon today. They will be open until 7:00pm today. Going forward their hours will be from 8am to 7pm everyday including Easter Sunday. FEMA teams will begin going door to door in the affected areas. Please make sure they have FEMA shirts on and are carrying a Lee County issued ID. Affected individuals and property owners are encouraged to register with FEMA as quickly as possible. FEMA’s toll free number is 1-800-621-3362.

Press Release #9 - Destruction and Recovery

Tornado of April 16 – Press Release #9 – Lee County

Damage assessment teams have finished the final pass through in Lee County.  Although the estimated amount of financial damage to the County is still being calculated, the number of buildings damaged by the storm is 457.  This number is almost double the number we communicated from the first pass that was made on Sunday and Monday of this week.  Of this amount 116 buildings were destroyed.  This number is made up of 17 business locations and 99 household units.  115 buildings suffered major damage, 11 of which were businesses.  127 buildings had minor damage and 99 were isolated with minimal impact.  The final assessment of the dollar value of this damage will be released next week.

Storm Debris collection in residential areas has begun in the County.  The North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) has begun collection in the unincorporated areas of the County on DOT maintained roads.  They have begun collecting vegetative debris first and will make additional passes in the future for construction demolition debris.  The County will be responsible for metal and white goods pickup, which will occur in the next couple of weeks.  The City of Sanford has begun debris pickup in the residential areas affected by the storm within their jurisdiction.  Byrd Brothers is collecting vegetative debris and construction demolition debris at the same time in the City.  They will address metal and white goods debris as they travel through the City.  Please remember to make 3 separate piles at the curb.   These 3 piles are vegetative debris (leaf, limb and trees), construction demolition debris (siding, shingles, wood and glass from buildings) and metal/white goods.  Please empty all spoiled food from your refrigerators before placing them at the curb.  Dispose of spoiled food as you would any normal trash from your house.  If you have any questions concerning Debris pickup please call the County at 718-4662 Monday through Friday 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.  If you live in the City limits you may dial 775-8321 Monday through Friday 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.  If you cannot get either of these offices please call the Lee County EOC at 777-7744.

As a reminder, FEMA officials are now in the County and have activated the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC).  They are located at the Ruby McSwain Center – Cooperative Extension facility – 2420 Tramway Road.  They are open from 8:00 am until 7:00 pm every day.  Please contact FEMA immediately so they can begin to process your claim to see if you qualify for Federal Assistance.    FEMA assistance will not duplicate what your homeowner’s insurance covers so make sure you have your policy with you when you fill out your claim.  FEMA assistance will cover, housing repair, temporary living assistance/housing, personal property damage, transportation needs, medical and dental expenses, funeral expenses, legal services, and disaster unemployment.  The Small Business Administration is also in the DRC. If you don’t qualify for FEMA grants you may qualify for low interest loans to help you whether you are a homeowner, farmer or business.