$100M+ in FEMA funding, investments heading to western North Carolina over a year after Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced $72 million of FEMA Public Assistance funding and $44.6 million of hazard mitigation investments will go to western North Carolina counties for disaster relief, over a year after Hurricane Helene hit. 

The FEMA funding will go to support road and bridge repairs, debris removal from public roads, potable water distribution, repair and replacement of fleet vehicles, DeBruhl Water Treatment Plants in Asheville and repairs to Beech Mountain’s sewer system and wastewater treatment plant. 

The hazard mitigation funding will invest in flood-prone properties in Buncombe and Henderson Counties and elevating 14 homes in Beaufort County. 

DHS says over $1 billion has been awarded to North Carolina for recovery. This is still short of the estimated $60 billion needed to fully recover western North Carolina. 

Noem credited North Carolina Republicans for their advocacy, such as Sen. Ted Budd.

Sen. Budd released a statement:  

“Ever since Hurricane Helene devastated the lives of more than half a million North Carolinians, I have been working non-stop to obtain approval for federal relief necessary to rebuild Western North Carolina. In recent months, I’ve engaged extensively with the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA regarding applications under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. I am glad that today, in addition to another tranche of public assistance funding totaling over $72 million, Secretary Noem has approved $44.6 million in grants for projects under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. While this is another promising step in the right direction, there are still families awaiting buyouts for their damaged and destroyed properties. As I have with the public assistance program, I pledge that I will continue to work closely with all federal, state, and local leaders to continue to identify projects that qualify for federal reimbursement, and I will be in constant contact with FEMA to get these dollars to Western North Carolina communities.”

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