The federal government has approved an additional $155 million in reimbursement funds to support North Carolina's recovery from Tropical Storm Helene and other past disasters. The announcement was made by Secretary Kristi Noem, following the direction of President Donald J. Trump.
A Senior DHS spokesperson stated, "President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to streamlining aid and supporting North Carolina’s recovery from Tropical Storm Helene and other disasters. These millions of dollars in federal assistance will help communities repair critical infrastructure, restore essential services and continue rebuilding stronger for the future."
Several Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants have been allocated to various state agencies and local organizations:
- The North Carolina Department of Transportation will receive $54 million for restoring roads, bridges, embankments, and culverts damaged by heavy rains, flooding, and runoff across 11 counties.
- French Broad Electric Corporation is set to get $23 million for emergency power restoration efforts serving over 43,000 members in Western North Carolina. This funding covers repairs to utility poles, fiber optic cables, electrical wires, and meters.
- Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation will receive $17.4 million for repairs to facilities such as electrical poles and transmission lines that were damaged during the storm.
- Henderson County is being awarded $14.8 million for debris removal efforts involving vegetative debris, commercial demolition waste, hazardous trees, and hanging limbs from both private property and public rights of way.
- Buncombe County is receiving $9.6 million for emergency protective measures including debris removal throughout the county as well as repairs to gravel roads and culverts affected by excessive rain and wind.
- The town of Boone will use $1.6 million for road repairs on Hunting Hills Lane; this includes replacing asphalt and guard rails as well as installing soil nail walls designed to prevent similar future damage from high water flows.
- The North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources has been granted $1.4 million for repair work at Paddy’s Creek Beach and Catawba Beach—restoring beach sand, retaining walls, and channel stone lining.
- Buncombe County Board of Education is set to receive $1.3 million for repairs at North Buncombe Middle School and Sand Hill Venable Elementary School—work that involves soil replacement along with removing or replacing steel pipes.
To date, more than $957 million has been provided to North Carolina for road repair, debris removal, critical infrastructure restoration, and emergency protective measures related to the 2024 Hurricane Season. Since January 20, 2025, over $632 million in Public Assistance reimbursements have been approved in support of recovery efforts statewide.
