FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell remains in North Carolina to direct and support ongoing recovery efforts for the federal response to Hurricane Milton in Florida.
The administrator travelled to Asheville, Fairview and Swannanoa in Western North Carolina and with met with local, state and federal staff. Recovery efforts continue across six states affected by Helene with FEMA approving nearly $550 million to approximately 400,000 households so they can jumpstart their recovery.
Crews have been working to restore power and communications and more than 96% of originally reported power outages have been restored in North Carolina. Cellular restoration continues to improve, with more than 93% of cellular sites in service as of today. Six Disaster Recovery Centers are now open in North Carolina. Meanwhile, more than 99% of power has been restored to Florida households.
Hurricane Milton survivors in 34 Florida counties and one Tribal Nation can register now for federal disaster assistance. On Oct. 11, President Jospeh R. Biden, Jr., approved a major disaster declaration for Florida following the hurricane.
President Biden previously approved federal disaster assistance in six states affected by Helene. This opens up federal help for survivors in designated areas in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina,Tennessee and Virginia. In total, over 8,200 federal personnel—including 4,300 FEMA staff—are in communities these states.