The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has announced an additional $103 million in funding to support disaster recovery and mitigation projects across North Carolina.
The FEMA funding, administered through the federal Public Assistance Program (PAP), will support a variety of projects throughout North Carolina, including school repairs, road upgrades, debris removal and infrastructure fixes. PAP funding supports states and local governments in response to major weather and natural disaster events, covering no less than 90% of eligible project costs.
The federal funding marks a critical step in North Carolina’s recovery efforts as Gov. Josh Stein is requesting $792 million in additional state funding for Hurricane Helene related projects. The state’s request for additional funding also marks the third round of state funding proposals aimed at rebuilding western North Carolina after the 2024 storm.
Among the highest-funded recipients of this PAP round include:
- Watauga County Schools: $26.1 million to replace the Valle Crucis School building.
- Haywood County: $12.5 million to reimburse the county for debris removal from waterways after Helene.
- French Broad Electric Membership Corporation: $7.3 million to repair the Capitola Dam and associated structures damaged by Helene’s flooding..
- Avery County: $6.2 million to reimburse countywide debris removal from non-navigable waterways following Helene.
- Town of North Topsail Beach: $6 million to reimburse sand replacement and dune vegetation work that restored an engineered beach system damaged by Hurricane Florence.
- North Carolina Department of Transportation: $4.8 million to repair multiple washed-out segments along State Route 197 in Mitchell County after Helene..
State and federal governments have already committed billions toward Hurricane Helene recovery in North Carolina. Lawmakers previously approved more than $1 billion in state disaster aid, while the Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided more than $564 million in direct assistance to survivors. Federal agencies and disaster loan programs have also contributed hundreds of millions more toward recovery efforts.
The funding would support a range of ongoing recovery efforts, including housing assistance, small business support, tourism promotion, infrastructure repairs, wildfire mitigation and emergency preparedness projects. The proposal also includes funding for wastewater system repairs and resiliency improvements.
Gov. Stein said housing remains one of the most urgent needs in western North Carolina, with funding proposed for rental assistance, utility assistance and grants to nonprofit organizations helping residents rebuild and repair homes. Additional funding would also help repair private roads and bridges that are not eligible for federal assistance but are critical for residents’ access to emergency services, work and school.
In a letter to the assembly, the governor said that the additional state funding would allow communities to accomplish projects more quickly without having to wait for federal aid, covering cashflow needs for FEMA-reimbursable projects and helping them prepare ahead of the upcoming fire season or any other natural disaster.
Photo by WikiImages from Pixabay
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