Amid growing concerns, state leaders are seeking clarity from the federal government regarding the stalled progress of a crucial recovery initiative. This delay impacts hundreds of residents in Western North Carolina, leaving them in uncertainty.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provides opportunities for property owners in flood-prone regions to sell their properties or make structural enhancements for increased safety.
This topic was a focal point during a session organized by the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, known as GROW NC.
According to Gov. Josh Stein, over 300 applications have been submitted to the program since February, but progress has been nonexistent. “And yet not a single homeowner application has been approved,” Stein said. “It is absolutely unacceptable. My team and I are asking FEMA, ‘What is the hold-up?’ We’re working hard to get some answers.”
Matt Calabria, who heads the governor’s recovery office, pointed out that $1.6 billion in funding is at risk, marking the largest potential funding allocation in the state’s history. He indicated that similar delays are being observed nationwide.
“We have a lot of families that are being held in limbo, who can’t move on with their lives until they get this funding so that they can reestablish themselves in a new home,” Calabria said.
A spokesperson for FEMA in North Carolina redirected inquiries to their headquarters in Washington, D.C. An automated response to an email inquiry cited the ongoing federal government shutdown as a reason for potential delays in response.
Insights from the GROW NC meeting on Monday:
- Federal aid has so far covered only about 11% of the $60 billion damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene on North Carolina. While a chart presented indicated only 9%, Calabria clarified that the numbers were slightly outdated. Historically, federal aid for hurricane damage in other states has ranged from 20% to 78%. North Carolina could see around 27% coverage if all appropriated funds are received, highlighting the need for additional appropriations.
- The ongoing federal shutdown has postponed certain disaster reimbursements, though FEMA Disaster Relief Fund programs remain unaffected. The repercussions of potential federal workforce reductions remain uncertain.
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Recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation allocated an additional $1.15 billion for emergency relief, raising the total to nearly $2 billion. However, this remains only a portion of the estimated $9 billion in transportation and infrastructure damages caused by Helene.
- The Renew NC program for single-family housing repairs has attracted over 4,000 applications to date. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2025. More information and application details are available here.
