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.

FEMA aid has been approved

Gov. Henry McMaster's request for expedited federal aid has been approved.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved support for Greenville County (among other counties) that will:

Provide direct financial assistance to residents with uninsured damages to their property — register online, via the FEMA App, or by calling 1-800-621-3362.
Provide public assistance to local governments for debris removal + other emergency protective measures.
Give state agencies, local governments, and certain non-profit organizations funding for projects that reduce or mitigate future disaster risks.

President Joe Biden previously approved an emergency declaration for South Carolina, which paved the way for federal assistance from the Department of Homeland Security + the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support state and local efforts.

Report your damage

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.