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Four More Counties Added to Disaster Declaration

Currituck, Pitt, Onslow and Washington Now Qualify

RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue this afternoon announced that she has secured federal approval for Currituck, Pitt, Onslow and Washington counties to be added to the federal disaster declaration in North Carolina. This enables families and business owners to seek low-interest loans or grants to help them recover from Hurricane Irene. Today’s action brings to 13 the total number of counties approved for individual assistance.

“Our local, state and federal emergency management teams are working hard to ensure that survivors of Hurricane Irene get the help they need,” Perdue said. “In the past 24 hours, residents and business owners in six more counties have been approved to seek federal assistance. Our teams on the ground continue to assess damages to see if additional counties qualify.”

Last night, Perdue directed state officials to ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency to add Currituck, Pitt, Onslow and Washington counties to its disaster declaration request for individual assistance.

President Obama on Wednesday approved the declaration for Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico and Tyrrell counties. Halifax and Lenoir counties were added Thursday.

FEMA provides two types of assistance. Individual assistance aids families and businesses, while public assistance helps with community recovery costs.

Yesterday, the state also received a federal disaster declaration enabling 20 counties to seek public assistance to help cover the costs of storm response, debris removal and infrastructure repairs. The counties are: Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Halifax, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Tyrrell and Wilson.

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