FEMA Announces Nearly $300 Million for North Carolina

Total Public Assistance funding to the state now tops $2 billion for Hurricane Helene recovery projects

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - FEMA announced an additional $298 million this week for nearly 70 recovery and mitigation projects to help North Carolina communities recover from Hurricane Helene and past disasters.

Many of these projects are part of the more than $5 billion provided by FEMA to support disaster survivors, North Carolina and local communities as they work to rebuild.

Notable Hurricane Helene recovery projects FEMA will fund include:

• $129 million to North Carolina Emergency Management for debris removal efforts.
• $32 million to Yancey County for debris removal efforts.
• $23 million to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for debris removal, emergency protective measures and road repairs.
• $4.6 million to Mountain Electric Cooperative to repair critical facilities.
• $3.7 million to Asheville to repair roads, water treatment plants and other facilities.
• $1.7 million to Maggie Valley to repair water control facilities and utilities.
• $1.2 million to Woodfin to repair roads and bridges.
• $1.1 million to Spruce Pine to repair utilities.

FEMA is reimbursing North Carolina at no less than a 90% federal share for Public Assistance recovery projects, an enhanced level of support reserved for the most significant disasters.

Other disaster recovery projects include:

• $33.7 million to North Carolina Baptist Hospital for materials, rented equipment and contracts to reduce or eliminate the spread of COVID-19.
• $22.5 million to Dare County to repair public facilities damaged by Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight.
• $1.2 million to Pender County Schools for emergency protective measures following Hurricane Florence.

FEMA is reimbursing these recovery costs at no less than a 75% federal cost share.

Additionally, FEMA approved mitigation projects that prevent, eliminate or reduce disaster-related damage, including:

• $29 million to Buncombe County to acquire and demolish 62 Helene-damaged properties and return the land to green space, eliminating future damage.
• $225,000 to North Carolina Emergency Management to update the state's enhanced hazard mitigation plan.

FEMA is funding these mitigation projects at no less than a 75% federal cost share through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

In recent years, FEMA approved pre-disaster mitigation projects for North Carolina to upgrade and protect infrastructure and reduce the cost of future disaster recovery. The state received $63 million for more than 50 projects through FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance grant programs.

FEMA remains committed to supporting North Carolina's recovery and resilience, working closely with state and local partners to help communities rebuild stronger for the future.