FEMA approves $197M to western NC after fraud review

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved more than $197 million in additional disaster recovery funding for North Carolina, including millions of dollars for western North Carolina communities still recovering from Hurricane Helene nearly two years after the storm devastated the region.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in Chimney Rock in April, “One of our highest priorities is to clean up this backlog. If there’s a way to get it done, we will do it.”

The latest funding package includes more than $179 million in FEMA Public Assistance grants for 30 projects related to Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Chantal, and other federally declared disasters, along with an additional $18 million through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).

“FEMA is committed to quickly delivering funding to communities recovering from disasters,” said Robert Fenton, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the FEMA Administrator. “As states, tribal nations and territories lead their response and recovery efforts, these funds help support and accelerate their progress. FEMA will continue to approve necessary funding while safeguarding taxpayer dollars.”

In line with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14395, “Establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud,” FEMA said it conducted detailed reviews of claimed costs for Public Assistance funds to help prevent fraud, waste and abuse.

The newly approved awards highlight both the scale of North Carolina’s ongoing recovery efforts and the continued reliance on federal assistance as communities transition from emergency response operations to long-term rebuilding.

“Ever since Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Chantal, and other disasters struck the Old North State, North Carolinians have been working every day to pick up the pieces,” US Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC, said in a statement. “The impact of these major storms was nothing short of devastating to our state. I am grateful to Secretary Mullin for unlocking over $197M in federal aid for North Carolina to keep rebuilding.”

Among the projects approved by FEMA are more than $4.7 million in funding for communities within North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, represented by Rep. Tim Moore, R-NC14.

“Western North Carolina has made significant progress since Hurricane Helene, but recovery is far from over,” Moore said in a statement. “This funding helps ease the financial burden on local governments that responded when their communities needed them most and enables critical rebuilding efforts. I appreciate President Trump, Secretary Mullin, and FEMA for recognizing the importance of this recovery effort and continuing to support Western North Carolina communities.”

The largest award within Moore’s district provides approximately $2.8 million to the city of Morganton for repairs to its boardwalk and related infrastructure damaged during Hurricane Helene. The funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

Another $1.8 million will reimburse debris removal operations conducted in Burke County following the storm. According to congressional officials, the project removed more than 9,700 cubic yards of vegetative debris from public rights of way to address safety concerns and support ongoing recovery efforts. The project is funded through a 90% federal cost share.

Rutherford County Schools will receive nearly $148,000 to repair or replace stormwater infrastructure damaged during Hurricane Helene.

The latest FEMA awards also provide additional funding to communities across western North Carolina that experienced extensive storm damage.

The town of Spruce Pine received two grants totaling approximately $871,000 for repairs to sewer lift station pipes, embankments, and other utility infrastructure. The town of Crossnore received more than $263,000 to repair water infrastructure damaged by the storm.

The city of Asheville was awarded more than $1.5 million for repairs to the Swannanoa River Greenway, while several schools, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and local governments also received federal assistance.

Transportation infrastructure continues to represent a major component of North Carolina’s recovery efforts.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation received more than $4.2 million for repairs to Jacks Creek Road in Yancey County and an additional $1.08 million for repairs to multiple state routes in Watauga County damaged by Hurricane Helene. Additional transportation grants were approved for repairs related to Tropical Depression Chantal.

Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-NC11, whose district includes many of the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Helene, said the latest funding approvals represent an important step toward rebuilding western North Carolina’s infrastructure.

“We’ve had somewhat of a mixed bag of dollars coming out of the federal government to western North Carolina,” Edwards said at a June 30 congressional hearing with White House Budget Director Russell Vought. “They seem to have really picked up. The momentum has picked up, and many of the projects for us to rebuild have been funded at a far quicker rate in the last few months.”

Debris removal remains among the most expensive and prolonged aspects of disaster recovery.

The latest FEMA approvals include more than $26 million for debris removal operations managed by North Carolina Emergency Management, along with nearly $3 million designated for private property debris removal. Local governments across western North Carolina have spent months awaiting federal reimbursement for debris removal expenses incurred immediately after the storm.

The largest single award announced Wednesday allocates nearly $136 million to North Carolina Emergency Management for state management costs associated with administering Hurricane Helene recovery programs.

In addition to recovery funding, FEMA approved hazard mitigation grants totaling more than $18 million. Those funds will support state management activities, property acquisitions, floodproofing projects, and other mitigation efforts intended to reduce damage from future disasters.

Federal disaster recovery programs typically unfold over several years, with emergency response and debris removal efforts followed by permanent infrastructure repairs and long-term hazard mitigation projects.

Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina, many communities continue repairing roads, bridges, utilities, schools, recreational facilities, and public infrastructure damaged by the storm.

The latest FEMA approvals demonstrate the continuing scale of North Carolina’s recovery efforts and the substantial work that remains as western North Carolina moves from immediate disaster response toward long-term rebuilding.

“FEMA approves $197M to western NC after fraud review” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.