NORTH CAROLINA (WSPA) - FEMA announced on Friday that the deadline for North Carolinians has been extended for those in need to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance after Hurricane Helene. The extension has been moved to January 7, 2025. LaTanga Hopes, media relations specialist with FEMA, said she hopes that with the extended deadline that more people will apply for assistance. "It’s possible there are still many other disaster survivors in Henderson County who have yet to apply for assistance," Hopes said. "We know there’s been some hesitancy about dealing with FEMA, but the extended deadline provides a renewed opportunity to learn more about the programs." Homeowners and renters in the following counties are eligible for FEMA financial assistance for serious needs, displacement, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured or underinsured expenses that were caused by Helene. The following counties include: Alexander Alleghany Ashe Avery Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Catawba Cherokee Clay Cleveland Forsyth Gaston Graham Haywood Henderson Iredell Jackson Lee Lincoln Macon Madison McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Nash Polk Rowan Rutherford Stanly Surry Swain Transylvania Union Watauga Wilkes Yadkin Yancey Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina If you have been affected by Hurricane Helene, you can apply for FEMA assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or contact the helpline at 800-621-3362.