Tropical Storm Fred Residential Recovery

No. State law prohibits this program to support repairs to retail, commercial and related for-profit business properties. This is primarily a homeowner focused program with limited funding to assist landlords to repair residential rental units that had tenants displaced by TS Fred. On a case-by-case basis, we may also have limited funding to repair private road and bridges that serve business or commercial properties.

Yes, subject to OSBM's reservations above, your use of alternative sources of private funds may be the fastest way to get your repairs started. You will have to complete a program application form, meet eligibility criteria noted above, and keep copies of receipts and organized records (ex. cashed checks) of expenses you incurred in repairing your home.

You must also be prepared to document the following: 

• Your home insurance does not cover the damage sustained during TS Fred;
• Any insurance claim proceeds will not cover all the costs of all needed repairs, in which cases State assistance may cover the balance of costs not covered by your insurance;
• You used your insurance proceeds to repair damage caused by TS Fred;
• The amount of assistance you received from the FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program and, if received, your use of that assistance in repairing your home, private road, and/or private bridge and any remaining balance you have to pay for additional repairs to your home; and/or
• Any assistance you may have received from any nonprofit volunteer group active in disasters (e.g., Baptist on Mission, United Methodist Church Recovery, United Way, Mountain Projects, etc.) that provided any materials, labor, and/or funds to help you repair your home from damage caused by TS Fred.

Only in limited circumstances if the owner is a landlord whose rental property was damaged by TS Fred and the tenant(s) living at the rental property were displaced as a result of TS Fred.

If there are funds remaining after the unmet needs of owners whose primary residences were damaged by TS Fred, or additional housing recovery funds become available, secondary homes and/or investment properties may become eligible for reimbursement of repair costs and/or repair assistance, but any such assistance will be made available only to North Carolina residents.  

More details on program support for these types of homes will be available in late 2022 or early 2023.  Make sure you keep copies of receipts, canceled checks and other organized records of your repair expenses.

Eligible property types include single-family homes, modular homes, manufactured home units (mobile homes), duplexes, condos and townhomes, and private roads, bridges and culverts that primarily serve residential properties.

Ineligible structure types include foreclosed homes, detached structures (such as a garage, barn or shed), and structures used exclusively for business purposes.
 

Yes, we can support you through a residential rapid repair program (Rapid Repairs) where you find building contractors you prefer using the following process and share that the contractor quotes or contracts with us.

Owner Rapid Repair Program

PLEASE NOTE!  For repairs over $70,000, the Residential Recovery Program (RRP) may competitively procure a contractor to repair the home and, in some cases, demolish the damaged homes and construct a new home from a catalog of approved home plans that owners may select from with similar room configurations and size.  The RRP may also finance owners repairs or major damage or to construct a new home. However, major repair projects and reconstruction of homes have maximum project limits, but the State does not guarantee any Homeowner an exact replacement of the home that was lost.  ALL REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WILL REQUIRE OWNERS TO PURCHASE FLOOD INSURANCE AND/OR HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE AS DETERMINED BY THE DAMAGED CAUSED BY TS FRED. 

The State and/or local unit of government may offer an owner a hazard mitigation buyout or acquisition because: (a) the owner’s home would sustain significant damage from another flooding event; (b) site conditions do not allow for reconstruction of the home on the property, and/or elevating the home is not a viable option. If an owner is offered a buyout or acquisition option, the owner may be eligible for additional assistance from the State Acquisition and Relocation Fund that may provide up to $5,000 for relocation cost or closing costs on a replacement home, and up to $50,000 to purchase a replacement home outside a 100-year floodplain or identified flood or land slip hazard area.

As with other disaster recovery programs administered by the State of North Carolina, the Tropical Storm Fred Recovery Program will use your household’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) reported to the Internal Revenue Service to determine income eligibility.  A “household” includes all individuals over the age of 18 who live at the damaged home and received any income during the 2021 tax year. 

Generally, your income (AGI) can be found on IRS 1040/1040-SR forms line 11 for 2020. To be eligible for assistance from the Tropical Storm Fred Recovery Program, your household AGI(s) must be at or below $94,100. 

The Program has discretion to make exceptions or provide waivers for compelling reasons for applicants who may have AGIs that exceed the $94,100 limit, so we encourage all interested homeowners to apply for consideration.

For households not required to file an IRS 1040/1040-SR, the Tropical Storm Fred Recovery Program will review any income statements provided by the U.S. Social Security Administration or applicant’s W-2s and W-2s of adult members of the household. 
 

In most cases, the Tropical Storm Recovery Program will offer assistance not to exceed $35,500, which is the maximum benefit under the FEMA Individual Assistance Program.  If an applicant’s home sustained major damage during Tropical Storm Fred or its associated weather events, or it is not safe to occupy, the Tropical Storm Fred Recovery Program may waive the $35,500 limitation.

If your family has an AGI which above the program limit then you will be required to provide information on efforts and steps made to cover losses or needs before requesting assistance under this program as required by Section 5.9A.(e) of Session Law 2021-180.