FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, which offers free hotel rooms, ends Jan. 10 unless FEMA grants an individual an extension.

The N.C. Department of Emergency Management announced Monday that at the request of Gov. Roy Cooper, the deadline has been moved to Feb. 6, 2025. Homeowners and renters in 39 counties, mostly in western North Carolina and including Mecklenburg, with uninsured losses from Helene may be eligible to apply for FEMA assistance.

FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program is providing hotel rooms to thousands of Western North Carolina survivors of Helene. However, on Jan. 3, FEMA began notifying families checked into either hotel or motel rooms,