Free legal assistance available for Helene storm victims in NC. How to get help.
As thousands of North Carolinians continue to pick up the pieces from the destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene, free legal help is now available to help those in need.
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 have teamed up to launch a pro bono legal program with local lawyers.
The Disaster Legal Services hotline (866-219-5262) is available for low-income survivors to connect with volunteer attorneys to assist with any storm-related questions and disaster benefits, including:
FEMA appeals
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Insurance claims
Home repair contracts and contractor disputes
Contractor fraud and consumer protection matters
Replacing destroyed legal documents
Mortgage-foreclosure
Landlord or tenant issues
The toll-free hotline is available 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. To be connected to a volunteer lawyer, explain which county you are located in and ask for Disaster Legal Services assistance.
According to Legal Aid of North Carolina, 26 continues have been approved for the federal assistance: 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.
You can find more information about the Disaster Legal Services hotline and Legal Aid’s resource library with tips for replacing lost documents, property taxes, unemployment assistance and more online at legalaidnc.org/disaster.
This story was originally published October 3, 2024 at 4:40 PM with the headline "Free legal assistance available for Helene storm victims in NC. How to get help.."
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