In danger now? Call 911.Shelter, food and local help: dial 211.Emotional crisis: call or text 988.Ayuda en español
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Free help for people in North and South Carolina before, during and after a disaster. Tap or click a number to call or text.

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In danger right now? Call 911.

If officials tell your area to evacuate, leave. Look up your evacuation zone: North Carolina zone lookup or South Carolina zone lookup.

  • Shelter, food and local help Dial 211
  • Find an open shelter Text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362
  • Someone to talk to Call 988 or text 988
  • FEMA disaster aid Call 800-621-3362

Free services

  • NC 211

    North Carolina only

    Connects you to shelters, food, help with utility bills, rides and other local services anywhere in North Carolina.

    Open 24 hours a day.

    Dial 211

    Or call 888-892-1162

    nc211.org

  • SC 211

    South Carolina only

    Connects you to shelters, food, help with bills and other local services anywhere in South Carolina.

    Dial 211

    sc211.org

  • findhelp.org

    Search by ZIP code for free or reduced-cost help near you, such as food, housing, help paying bills, rides and legal aid. You can search without signing up.

    findhelp.org

  • Crisis Intervention Program (heating and cooling bills)

    North Carolina only

    Help paying a heating or cooling bill when your household faces a health or safety emergency and no other help can come in time. A past-due bill or final notice is enough. Apply through your county Department of Social Services or online with ePASS.

    Applications are taken all year until the money runs out.

    NC DHHS help line 800-662-7030

    Apply online with ePASS

    Find your county DSS

  • Energy bill help (LIHEAP)

    South Carolina only

    Help paying heating and cooling bills for households that qualify by income. Apply through the community action agency that serves your county. Bring a current energy bill, ID and proof of income. SC 211 can tell you which agency serves you.

    Dial 211

    SC LIHEAP information

  • Find an open shelter

    Text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 to find open shelters near you. The Red Cross also keeps a map of open shelters. Red Cross shelters welcome pets, though some pets may need to stay at a different location, and service animals can always stay with you.

    Text SHELTER and your ZIP to 43362

    Red Cross shelter map

  • FEMA disaster assistance

    Apply for federal help with temporary housing, home repairs and other needs after a disaster. Your county has to be part of a federal disaster declaration that includes help for individuals. You can also apply in the FEMA App.

    Phone lines open every day, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time, with interpreters for most languages. If you use a relay service, give FEMA the number for that service. If FEMA says no, the letter explains why, and you have 60 days from its date to appeal.

    Call 800-621-3362

    DisasterAssistance.gov

  • SBA disaster loans

    Low-interest loans to repair or replace homes, belongings and businesses after a declared disaster. Homeowners and renters can apply too.

    Call 800-659-2955

    sba.gov/disaster

  • Crisis Cleanup

    After many disasters, Crisis Cleanup opens a free hotline that passes your request to volunteer groups for work like debris removal and mucking out a flooded home. Help is free but not guaranteed. The hotline can’t help with food, shelter, insurance or FEMA questions. Ask 211 whether a cleanup hotline is open for your area.

    crisiscleanup.org

  • HUD housing counselors

    If a disaster leaves you behind on your mortgage or rent, a housing counselor approved by HUD can walk you through options like forbearance or a payment plan before you fall further behind.

    Call 800-569-4287

    Find a counselor online

  • IRS disaster tax relief

    When a county is in a federally declared disaster area, the IRS often pushes back tax deadlines for people who live there. Check the list for your state and county before you file or pay.

    IRS disaster relief list

  • Flood insurance claims

    Homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. If you have flood insurance, report the damage to your agent or insurance company first. If you bought the policy straight from the National Flood Insurance Program, call NFIP Direct.

    NFIP Direct 800-638-6620

    FloodSmart.gov

  • NC Department of Insurance

    North Carolina only

    Free help when a homeowners or auto insurance claim is stuck, delayed or denied.

    Call 855-408-1212

    ncdoi.gov

  • SC Department of Insurance

    South Carolina only

    Free help when a homeowners or auto insurance claim is stuck, delayed or denied.

    Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Call 800-768-3467

    Or 803-737-6180

    doi.sc.gov

  • Legal Aid of North Carolina

    North Carolina only

    Free legal help for people with low incomes, including aid denials, insurance disputes, landlord problems and proving you own your home.

    Phone lines Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Senior Legal Helpline for age 60 or older: Monday to Friday, 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.

    Call 866-219-5262

    Age 60 or older 877-579-7562

    Apply online any time

  • South Carolina Legal Services

    South Carolina only

    Free legal help for people with low incomes, including aid denials, insurance disputes, landlord problems and proving you own your home.

    Call 888-346-5592

    sclegal.org

  • Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation

    South Carolina only

    Helps South Carolina families get the title to inherited land and homes into the right family members’ names.

    Call 843-745-7055

    heirsproperty.org

  • Disaster Distress Helpline

    Free, confidential support from trained counselors for anyone struggling with stress, grief or worry after a disaster.

    Open 24 hours a day, in Spanish and other languages.

    Call 800-985-5990

    Text 800-985-5990

    samhsa.gov

  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

    Call or text if you or someone you know is in emotional crisis or thinking about suicide.

    Open 24 hours a day. Press 2 for Spanish.

    Call 988

    Text 988

    988lifeline.org

  • NC Attorney General, Consumer Protection

    North Carolina only

    Report price gouging, contractor fraud and scams.

    Call 877-566-7226

    ncdoj.gov

Crisis Compass can’t take requests for help from individuals yet. These services can help you today. We last checked these numbers on each provider’s website on October 28, 2026. Services marked for one state serve that state only. Everything else serves both.

If a number or link stops working, tell us at contact@crisiscompasscarolinas.org.

Stay safe after the storm

Many injuries happen in the days after a storm, during cleanup and power outages. Watch for these.

  • Generators and grills go outside only.Keep them at least 20 feet from windows and doors. Their fumes can kill you indoors, even with a window open.
  • Stay clear of downed lines and floodwater.Treat every downed line as live. Never walk or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock an adult down, and 12 inches can carry away most cars. Report outages to your power company. The number is on your bill.
  • Know when food is no longer safe.A closed refrigerator keeps food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours.
  • Follow boil-water notices.If your well flooded, ask your county health department about testing the water before you drink it.
  • Replace lost medicine.After some declared disasters, people without health insurance can replace prescriptions through the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program at 855-793-7470.

Watch for scams

Scammers follow disasters. Keep these rules in mind.

  • Government aid is free to apply for.FEMA, SBA and state programs never charge an application fee. Anyone who asks for one is not with the government.
  • Real inspectors carry ID.FEMA and insurance inspectors show photo identification. Ask for it before you let anyone in, and never give out bank information at the door.
  • Never pay a contractor in full up front.Get written estimates, check the license and pay as work is finished.
  • You don’t have to sell.Fast cash offers for damaged homes and land arrive within days of a storm. Read what to do before you sell.
  • Report it.North Carolina: Attorney General, 877-566-7226. South Carolina scams: Department of Consumer Affairs, 844-835-5322. South Carolina price gouging: Attorney General at scag.gov.

Your county’s emergency office

County emergency management shares evacuation orders, opens shelters with partners and sends local alerts. Find yours and sign up for its alerts. If you rely on power for medical equipment or need help to evacuate, tell them before storm season.

Or find the offices and statewide services that cover your county.