FEMA announces additional aid to support Hurricane Helene damage in Western NC
FEMA announced an additional $298 million to support Western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene on Wednesday.
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The funding will support nearly 70 mitigation projects for communities affected by Helene and other past disasters. Projects include:
The additional aid adds to more than $5 billion FEMA has provided to support disaster survivors in North Carolina. FEMA is reimbursing North Carolina no less than a 90% federal cost share for Public Assistance recovery projects, a level reserved for the most significant disasters.
In Sept. 2024, Hurricane Helene ravaged through Western North Carolina. The storm, which initially struck Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, has left more than 100 people dead across six states, with at least 108 fatalities reported in North Carolina.
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Severe damage to infrastructure, including washed-out highways and submerged substations, severely hampered recovery efforts. The beating damaged more than 73,000 homes in North Carolina, including 8,800 confirmed to be either badly harmed or destroyed, according to the Observer’s previous reporting.
In recent years, FEMA also approved pre-disaster mitigation projects in North Carolina to upgrade and protect infrastructure and reduce future recovery costs. The state received $63 million for more than 50 projects.
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