ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — North Carolina is getting another $137 million in federal disaster recovery and mitigation funding, FEMA announced.
FEMA said the latest round covers 114 projects and brings its total assistance for Hurricane Helene and other recent disasters in North Carolina to more than $7.5 billion.
The money includes $102 million for 104 Public Assistance projects, which reimburse state and local governments and other eligible organizations for expenses including debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to damaged infrastructure.
The latest funding includes several projects in Western North Carolina, including:
- $23.4 million for the North Carolina Department of Transportation to repair roads, bridges and buildings damaged by Helene.
- $16.8 million for the Hendersonville Affordable Housing Corporation to repair housing units at Lincoln Circle and Robinson Terrace.
- $10 million for North Carolina Emergency Management for debris removal.
- $3.9 million for Mountain Electric Cooperative for reconductoring work on power lines.
- $3.3 million for Asheville Christian Academy to repair facilities and building contents.
- $3.2 million for Avery County for management costs.
- $3.1 million for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to repair the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery.
NCDOT also will receive another $5.7 million for debris removal and repairs to roads damaged by Tropical Depression Chantal.
FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton said the latest funding will help communities repair essential infrastructure and prepare for future storms.
“FEMA’s continued commitment, in partnership with Senator Budd, is to move recovery forward at the pace North Carolina needs,” Hamilton said.
The funding comes through FEMA’s Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant programs.
More than $34 million of the latest funding will go through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to help North Carolina acquire nearly 80 flood-prone properties damaged by Helene in Buncombe, Mecklenburg, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties, as well as properties in the towns of Belhaven and Bolton.
The properties will be converted to permanent open space, keeping them from being redeveloped in areas vulnerable to future flooding.
FEMA said the latest awards bring the number of properties it has helped North Carolina acquire through the mitigation program to more than 500.
Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., said the additional funding will help communities continue rebuilding after Helene.
“By empowering FEMA to reimburse state and local governments for public assistance projects quickly, President Trump and Secretary Mullin are delivering on their promise to rebuild Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene,” Budd said.
Helene struck Western North Carolina in September 2024, causing widespread damage to roads, bridges, homes, businesses and utilities across the region.