It’s been several days since Helene passed through the Upstate, but devastation remains. As crews work to clean up fallen trees and downed power lines, there are also resources for home and business owners affected by storm damage.
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for South Carolina, which paves the way for federal assistance from the Department of Homeland Security + the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support state and local efforts.
Greenville County Emergency Management is asking citizens to report damage for a damage assessment that will be used to request federal assistance for our area.
If you were affected, here’s what you need to do:
- Take photos of all the damage and debris before cleaning up.
- Download the SC Emergency Manager App. (Click here for Apple + click here for Google.)
- Select “Tools” from the tool bar at the bottom.
- Select “Damage Assessment.”
- Fill out your information.
As you clean up, here are a few more tips:
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to find out what your policy covers — don’t sign any contract for repairs until an assessment is complete.
- If you need to pay for emergency repairs or supplies to protect your property, document all costs and keep your receipts.
- Gear up with sturdy shoes, long pants, long sleeves, and gloves.
- Be cautious of hazards like nails and broken glass + avoid downed power lines.
