FEMA announces additional aid to support Hurricane Helene damage in Western NC

FEMA announced an additional $298 million to support Western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene on Wednesday.

The funding will support nearly 70 mitigation projects for communities affected by Helene and other past disasters. Projects include:

• $129 million to North Carolina Emergency Management for debris removal.
• $32 million to Yancey County for debris removal.
• $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.

The additional aid adds to more than $5 billion FEMA has provided to support disaster survivors in North Carolina. FEMA is reimbursing North Carolina no less than a 90% federal cost share for Public Assistance recovery projects, a level reserved for the most significant disasters.

In Sept. 2024, Hurricane Helene ravaged through Western North Carolina. The storm, which initially struck Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, has left more than 100 people dead across six states, with at least 108 fatalities reported in North Carolina.

Severe damage to infrastructure, including washed-out highways and submerged substations, severely hampered recovery efforts. The beating damaged more than 73,000 homes in North Carolina, including 8,800 confirmed to be either badly harmed or destroyed, according to the Observer’s previous reporting.

In recent years, FEMA also approved pre-disaster mitigation projects in North Carolina to upgrade and protect infrastructure and reduce future recovery costs. The state received $63 million for more than 50 projects.