Senator Budd Secures $72 Million in FEMA Public Assistance & $44.6 Million in Hazard Mitigation Grants for Western North Carolina
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem today announced more than $72 million in Public Assistance (PA) grant program reimbursements and $44.6 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds for Hurricane Helene recovery projects across Western North Carolina. These HMGP funds are critical for protecting Western North Carolina from potential flooding and storm damage in the future.
“Ever since Hurricane Helene devastated the lives of more than half a million North Carolinians, I have been working non-stop to obtain approval for federal relief necessary to rebuild Western North Carolina. In recent months, I’ve engaged extensively with the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA regarding applications under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. I am glad that today, in addition to another tranche of public assistance funding totaling over $72 million, Secretary Noem has approved $44.6 million in grants for projects under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. While this is another promising step in the right direction, there are still families awaiting buyouts for their damaged and destroyed properties. As I have with the public assistance program, I pledge that I will continue to work closely with all federal, state, and local leaders to continue to identify projects that qualify for federal reimbursement, and I will be in constant contact with FEMA to get these dollars to Western North Carolina communities,” said Sen. Budd.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, below are some of the notable FEMA Public Assistance grants obligated to the state and communities:
- $34.7 million to North Carolina Department of Transportation for road and bridge repairs across more than 300 sites in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Henderson, Mitchell, Surry, and Watauga counties.
- $17.6 million to Rutherford County for the removal of nearly 700,000 cubic yards of debris and 75,000 trees and limbs from public rights of way, and the operation of four debris reduction sites.
- $10.5 million to Asheville for potable water distribution, the repair or replacement of more than 100 fleet vehicles, DeBruhl Water Treatment Plant repairs, and road repairs.
- $3.7 million to Beech Mountain for repairs to the town’s sewer system and wastewater treatment plant.
DHS has announced that Hazard Mitigation Grant Program investments moving forward will include projects to:
- Acquire flood-prone properties in Buncombe County (approximately $14.2 million).
- Acquire flood-prone properties in Henderson County (approximately $9.2 million).
- Elevate 14 homes in Beaufort County (approximately $2.5 million).
According to DHS, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) “provides funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to develop hazard mitigation plans and rebuild in ways that reduce or mitigate future disaster losses in their communities. This funding becomes available following a Presidentially declared disaster.”
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