FEMA Allocates $97 Million for Hurricane Helene Recovery in Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina is set to receive a significant financial boost in its ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced the disbursement of approximately $97 million to assist with debris removal and road repair across various counties. This funding also includes the reconstruction of Valle Crucis School, an elementary institution in Watauga County, which was closed for over a year due to damage from the hurricane.
This financial release marks the first instance of FEMA funding distribution since Markwayne Mullin succeeded Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security in early March. Mullin has pledged to eliminate Noem’s contentious policy that required his signature on all expenditures exceeding $100,000, aiming to expedite funding for areas affected by Hurricane Helene. This policy change is expected to alleviate financial strains in communities previously hindered by funding delays, some of which have been facing financially precarious positions.
The funds are part of FEMA’s Public Assistance program, a grant initiative supporting local and state governments in hurricane recovery efforts. The program focuses on infrastructure repair and emergency response services. To date, North Carolina has received over $1.5 billion in Public Assistance funds for Helene recovery.
For counties in Western North Carolina, the timing of this financial aid is critical as they prepare their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. Haywood County, in particular, has expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of reimbursements. During a budget planning meeting on March 16, County Manager Bryant Morehead noted that the federal government owed the county approximately $17.7 million, a significant amount relative to its annual budget of $112 million.
Commissioner Brandon Rogers voiced his frustration, stating, “It’s frustrating to me that we have to keep begging and asking for this money. We followed all of the rules to the T to make sure that we got our reimbursements. We paid our vendors in good faith. And it’s putting all of us kind of in a corner of making decisions on what programs we can and can’t fund at the local level while we’re waiting on reimbursements.”
In this latest allocation, Haywood County received $12.5 million for debris removal, leaving $5.5 million outstanding, as per county calculations.
Statewide, Hurricane Helene caused nearly $60 billion in damages. So far, federal aid for Helene recovery in North Carolina totals approximately $11 billion, supplemented by $3.85 billion from the state, collectively addressing about 17% of the total damages.
Below is a detailed list of the latest reimbursements:
- $1.58 million for debris removal in Watauga County
- $1.61 million for debris removal in Rutherford County
- $4.8 million to the NCDOT
- $6.2 million for debris removal in Avery County
- $26.1 million for the repair of Valle Crucis School in Watauga County
- $1.1 million for emergency equipment support in Avery County
- $1 million for debris removal in Woodfin
- $1.41 million for debris removal in Biltmore Forest
- $3.74 million for debris removal in Rutherford County
- $4.03 million for debris removal in Rutherford County
- $1.5 million to the NCDOT for road repairs in Ashe County
- $12.5 million for debris removal in Haywood County
- $1.07 million for road repairs in Asheville (Horizon Hill Road)
- $1.54 million to the NCDOT for road repairs in Mitchell County
- $3.7 million to the NCDOT for road repairs in Watauga County
- $2.92 million to the NCDOT for road repairs and emergency protective measures in Buncombe County
- $1.49 million to the NCDOT for emergency support across Buncombe, Burke, and Madison counties
- $1.38 million to the NCDOT for temporary bridge repairs in Henderson County
- $1.10 million for berm repairs at Bat Cave Baptist Church
- $7.31 million for dam repairs at French Broad Electric Membership Corporation
- $1.09 million for emergency support for election sites statewide
