Monday, April 25, 2011

North Carolina Bar Association Provides Disaster Legal Services

The North Carolina Bar Association, through its Young Lawyers Division, will provide free legal assistance to persons in North Carolina affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding of April 16.

Activation of the Disaster Legal Services program follows President Obama's recent declaration of a major disaster. The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Bertie, Bladen, Cumberland, Halifax, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Onslow, Wake and Wilson.

Storm victims needing help with legal problems may call the NCBA weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-800-662-7407 and ask for Disaster Legal Services. Someone will be on hand to answer basic questions and, if needed, refer storm victims to volunteer attorneys in or near their area.

Attorneys who wish to volunteer should call that same number or e-mail sections@ncbar.org. Access this link for more information.

Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis in the counties of Bertie, Bladen, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Johnston, Lee, Onslow, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Wake and Wilson for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance.

The program is conducted in conjunction with the ABA’s Disaster Legal Services Program and FEMA.

The volunteer attorneys will not be seeking and will not accept business from those affected by these storms. It is strictly a public service.

The N.C. Bar Association also has a free informational pamphlet titled “Rebuilding After Disaster Strikes,” which is available by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to YLD Disaster Services, PO Box 3688, Cary, NC 27519. The pamphlet may also be downloaded off the NCBA Web site (www.ncbar.org) where it is located on the home page under Featured Items.

Source: North Carolina Bar Association

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