$116M in Helene aid coming, as Stein, Budd seek more

More relief is on the way from Washington, DC, to western North Carolina for those affected by Hurricane Helene, which hit in September 2024.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced Wednesday more than $72 million in Public Assistance (PA) grant program reimbursements and $44.6 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds for Hurricane Helene recovery projects. HMGP funds are aimed at protecting western North Carolina from future flooding and storm damage.

“Ever since Hurricane Helene devastated the lives of more than half a million North Carolinians, I have been working non-stop to obtain approval for federal relief necessary to rebuild Western North Carolina,” said US Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC, in a press release announcing the funding. “In recent months, I’ve engaged extensively with the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA regarding applications under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. I am glad that today, in addition to another tranche of public assistance funding totaling over $72 million, Secretary Noem has approved $44.6 million in grants for projects under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.”

Some of the Public Assistance grants include:

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• $34.7 million to North Carolina Department of Transportation for road and bridge repairs across more than 300 sites in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Henderson, Mitchell, Surry, and Watauga counties.
• $17.6 million to Rutherford County for the removal of nearly 700,000 cubic yards of debris and 75,000 trees and limbs from public rights of way, and the operation of four debris reduction sites.
• $10.5 million to Asheville for potable water distribution, the repair or replacement of more than 100 fleet vehicles, DeBruhl Water Treatment Plant repairs, and road repairs.
• $3.7 million to Beech Mountain for repairs to the town’s sewer system and wastewater treatment plant.

In addition, Hazard Mitigation Funds will include:

• Acquiring flood-prone properties in Buncombe County (approximately $14.2 million)
• Acquiring flood-prone properties in Henderson County (approximately $9.2 million)
• Elevating 14 homes in Beaufort County (approximately $2.5 million)

“While this is another promising step in the right direction, there are still families awaiting buyouts for their damaged and destroyed properties,” Budd continued. “As I have with the public assistance program, I pledge that I will continue to work closely with all federal, state, and local leaders to continue to identify projects that qualify for federal reimbursement, and I will be in constant contact with FEMA to get these dollars to Western North Carolina communities.” 

Stein: “constructive development, but much more needs to be done.”

At a press conference on Thursday, Gov. Josh Stein said that while yesterday’s announcement from FEMA was a “constructive development,” he agrees with Budd that there are many families awaiting help from the federal government, and so much more needs to be done, including for a woman from Swannanoa whose house was destroyed during the storm.

Stein, a Democrat, said she attended a meeting of the Governor’s Advisory Committee on WNC Recovery, held last Friday in Spindale, and begged the government to buy her property.

“She said my house in Swannanoa was destroyed to the point where it’s uninhabitable, I cannot live there,” the governor said. “I’m still paying a mortgage on that property, I can’t do anything with it. I can’t sell it. I can’t rebuild it. I’m just spending money. Please take this. She raised her hand and said, I want you all to take my property, and the way it works is they (federal government) buy the property, and then it becomes green space forever, so that there won’t be anyone who experiences pain if there is future flooding.”

Stein said she, along with 560 other homeowners who applied, are still waiting for help from the federal government.

the governor goes to washington to request $13.5 billion in additional funding for wnc

The governor also traveled to Washington, DC, on Wednesday and met with Budd and other members of the North Carolina Congressional delegation, including US Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, and other government officials to request an additional $13.5 billion in funding for WNC.

I am grateful to Sens. Budd and Tillis, members of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation, and acting FEMA Administrator Evans for meeting with Sen. Corbin, Mayor Manheimer, and me today in Washington, D.C. and for their work to help western NC rebuild. ⁰ ⁰I look forward to… pic.twitter.com/8ID4R6RpwG

— Governor Josh Stein (@NC_Governor) January 14, 2026

The request included:

• $1.77 billion for the USDOT for road repairs
• $8.37 billion from HUD to support more homeowners in repairing and rebuilding their homes  
• $1.99 billion from FEMA in forgivable loans to help local governments stay afloat as recovery continues to strain their finances
• $540 million from the EPA to restore water infrastructure systems   

“The federal government has committed just over $7 billion toward western North Carolina’s recovery since Hurricane Helene,” Stein said in a press release. “While we are grateful for every dollar, and this aid has been critical to our recovery work, it represents only 12 percent of the storm’s total damage. Typically, the federal government contributes about 50% of the damage to the impacted state.”

“The longer the delay in federal funding and getting programs up and running, the worse it is for western North Carolina recovery,” he said during Thursday’s press conference. “The quicker we can get resources deployed into local communities rebuilding homes; rebuilding roads, bridges, water systems; helping small businesses get through what’s gonna be a tough winter; the stronger the long-term recovery will be.”

Stein said delays in getting help to those who need it is terrible because costs keep rising the longer it goes on, and it becomes harder for people to get back on their feet.

“We want people looking to the future,” he said. “What can I do to make a brighter future? And that means getting people to a place of stability and speed is of the essence.”

“$116M in Helene aid coming, as Stein, Budd seek more” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.