RALEIGH — More than $233 million in federal public assistance grant reimbursement funds is headed to North Carolina for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
The funding reimburses local governments, utilities, state agencies and other eligible entities for costs they fronted in response and recovery efforts such as debris removal, infrastructure repairs and other emergency measures.
“Communities across Western North Carolina have fronted millions of dollars to clear and repair damage caused by Hurricane Helene,” Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) said in a Jan. 28 press release.
“I’ve continued to engage with the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to expedite the release of federal aid for recovery and repairs that had been stalled, and I am proud to announce that another $233 million is on the way. I am grateful to President (Donald) Trump for his consistent support for Western North Carolina and to his administration for helping get these funds out the door.”
According to Budd’s release, the Department of Homeland Security released the funds, which follows $116 million sent to the state Jan. 14.
A chart of the incoming $233 million was included in Budd’s press release. Key recipients include:
• Emergency Management — $200 million for emergency protective measures, including temporary water restoration, shelters, generators and disaster response operations across western North Carolina.
• Department of Transportation — $2.7 million for road repairs in Avery County.
• Department of Transportation — More than $11 million for roadway repairs across multiple routes in Buncombe County.
• Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation — $8.8 million for permanent repairs to electric and broadband infrastructure.
• Town of Lake Lure (Lake Lure Marina) — $1.8 million for repairs to marine docks.
Other various local entities in the Hickory Nut Gorge area will get $1.61 million for repairs to Edney Inn Road and Hog Rock Road, including mitigation measures like riprap and erosion control, and $4.5 million for repairs to Pot Shoals Road.
