RALEIGH — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced another $33 million in relief for Hurricane Helene relief efforts in North Carolina on Dec. 5.
“This investment will repair and restore critical public infrastructure across North Carolina, including schools, public safety facilities, utilities, and community services,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a press release.
According to the press release, the funding will go toward 44 recovery projects, bringing the total in public assistance funds for the state’s recovery efforts to more than $1 billion. The $33 million funding is in addition to more than $2 billion in FEMA funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers statewide debris clearance in January.
“North Carolina communities are rebuilding stronger, and today’s approvals show this Administration’s commitment to cutting red tape and getting recovery dollars out the door faster,” said Noem. “I want to thank Senator Ted Budd, Congressman Chuck Edwards, and Chairman Michael Whatley for their strong advocacy on behalf of North Carolinians.”
In a separate press release, Budd thanked Noem for releasing the funding and noted he had released his hold on nominees for her department as a result.
“I am grateful for Secretary Noem working with me to more regularly approve reimbursements for Helene and past disaster recovery projects,” Budd said. “While I have released my holds on DHS nominees, I will continue to engage all relevant federal agencies to make sure Western North Carolina receives the focus and attention it deserves, particularly the final distribution of funds to the municipalities and state agencies in desperate need of financial relief.
“There is still more work to be done to make the people of Western North Carolina whole in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, and the federal government must continue to do its part.”
Budd’s release noted more than $29 million of the funds are public assistance reimbursements that follow FEMA’s previous release of $155 million for recovery projects. His release also included a list of projects, the locations and the cost.
That included more than $7.6 million to Asheville Municipal Golf Course; more than $4 million for Catawba Meadows Park in Morganton; nearly $2.1 million for Blevins Creek Road repairs in Avery County; more than $3.45 million for Avery County senior center and administrative buildings; more than $1.6 million each for Beech Mountain and Asheville emergency support; more than $1.6 million for repairs to N.C. 1407 in McDowell County; more than $1.3 million for Bee Tree Dam in Asheville; more than $1.3 million for repairs to several Buncombe County roads; just over $1.3 million for alternative procedures debris removal; nearly $1.3 million for a water distribution system in Spruce Pine; more than $1.1 million for several roads in Caldwell County; and just over $1 million for emergency support for North Carolina Emergency Management.
