Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) released the following statement after FEMA announced an additional $103 million in Public Assistance (PA) grants for 50 projects to repair infrastructure in the wake of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Florence.
“I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Mullin for their partnership and their continued efforts to support Western North Carolina communities that are still working to clean up and rebuild after Hurricane Helene. Ensuring Public Assistance funds are approved and disbursed quickly means more projects — like removing debris, reopening schools, and repairing roads — can move forward. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress, the State of North Carolina, and local officials so that families and small businesses across our mountain communities can continue their recovery,” said Senator Budd.
BACKGROUND
Below is a chart detailing the PA grants that have received approval for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Florence:
| TOTAL PROJECT COST | FEMA SHARE | FEDERAL COST SHARE | GRANT TYPE | SUMMARY |
| $8,060,251.06 | $6,045,188.30 | 75% | PA | TOWN OF NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH – Engineered Beach Declaration Date: 9/14/2018 This award provides $6,045,188.30 in federal funding to the town of North Topsail Beach for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4393-NC (Hurricane Florence). This funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,581,049.63 | $1,581,049.63 | 100% | PA | WATAUGA COUNTY Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,581,049.63 in federal funding to Watauga County for debris removal operations as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,617,601.72 | $1,617,601.72 | 100% | PA | RUTHERFORD COUNTY – 100% Federal Cost Share: 2/16/2025 and 3/24/2025 Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,617,601.72 in federal funding to Rutherford County for debris removal operations as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $5,430,655.00 | $4,887,589.50 | 90% | PA | NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Division 13 Mitchell County: State Route 197 Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $4,887,589.50 in federal funding to the NC Department of Transportation for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $6,237,862.58 | $6,237,862.58 | 100% | PA | AVERY COUNTY Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $6,237,862.58 in federal funding to Avery County for debris removal operations as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $29,037,189.11 | $29,037,189.11 | 90% | PA | WATAUGA COUNTY SCHOOLS – Valle Crucis School Building Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $26,133,470.20 in federal funding to the Watauga County Schools for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,180,358.25 | $1,180,358.25 | 100% | PA | AVERY COUNTY – Emergency Support: Force Account Equipment Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,180,358.25 in federal funding to Avery County for emergency protective measures as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,124,024.50 | $1,011,622.05 | 90% | PA | TOWN OF WOODFIN Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,011,622.05 in federal funding to the town of Woodfin for debris removal operations as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,566,481.56 | $1,409,833.41 | 90% | PA | TOWN OF BILTMORE FOREST Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,409,833.41 in federal funding to the town of Biltmore Forest for debris removal operations as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $4,156,241.04 | $3,740,616.94 | 90% | PA | RUTHERFORD COUNTY Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $3,740,616.94 in federal funding to Rutherford County for debris removal operations as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $4,477,577.91 | $4,029,820.12 | 90% | PA | RUTHERFORD COUNTY – 90% Federal Cost Share: 3/25/2025 and 5/24/2025 Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $4,029,820.12 in federal funding to Rutherford County for debris removal operations as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,668,447.00 | $1,501,602.30 | 90% | PA | NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Division 11 Ashe County: State Routes 1349, 1353, 1354, 1355, 1356, and 1358 Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,501,602.30 in federal funding to the NC Department of Transportation for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $13,915,299.52 | $12,523,769.57 | 90% | PA | HAYWOOD COUNTY Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $12,523,769.57 in federal funding to Haywood County for debris removal operations as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,191,236.05 | $1,072,112.45 | 90% | PA | CITY OF ASHEVILLE – Horizon Hill Road Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,072,112.45 in federal funding to the city of Asheville for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,710,150.60 | $1,539,135.54 | 90% | PA | NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Division 13 Mitchell County: State Routes 1140, 1141, 1142, and 1143 Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,539,135.54 in federal funding to the NC Department of Transportation for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,523,581.12 | $1,371,223.01 | 90% | PA | NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Division 11 Watauga County: State Routes 1215, 1216, and 1217, Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,371,223.01 in federal funding to the NC Department ofTransportation for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,255,348.00 | $1,129,813.20 | 90% | PA | NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Division 11 Watauga County: State Routes 1215, 1216, and 1217, Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,371,223.01 in federal funding to the NC Department of Transportation for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,330,487.88 | $1,197,439.10 | 90% | PA | NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Division 11 Watauga County: State Routes 1141, 1146, 1147, 1148, 1149, 1150, 1151, 1152, 1155, and 1156 Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,129,813.20 in federal funding to the NC Department of Transportation for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,154,428.59 | $1,038,985.74 | 90% | PA | NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Division 13 Buncombe County: State Routes 2458, 2460, 2461, 2468, 2474, 2476, 2478, 2515, 2520, 2522, 2528, 2530, 2531, and 2532 Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,038,985.74 in federal funding to the NC Department of Transportation for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $2,091,291.00 | $1,882,161.90 | 90% | PA | NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Division 13 Buncombe County: 3/25/2025 and 9/28/2025 – 90% Federal Cost Share Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,882,161.90 in federal funding to the NC Department of Transportation for emergency protective measures as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,488,016.05 | $1,488,016.05 | 100% | PA | NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Division 11 Watauga County: State Routes 1307, 1308, 1309, 1310, 1311, 1312, and 1347 Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,197,439.10 in federal funding to the NC Department of Transportation for permanent work as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under the authority of Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,381,064.37 | $1,381,064.37 | 100% | PA | NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Division 14 Henderson County: Temporary Repair State Route 1802 Big Hungry Road Bridge Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,381,064.37 in federal funding to the NC Department of Transportation for emergency protective measures as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,224,532.00 | $1,102,078.80 | 90% | PA | NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – Emergency Support: Buncombe, Burke, and Madison Counties Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,488,016.05 in federal funding to the NC Department of Transportation for emergency protective measures as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $8,117,613.36 | $7,305,852.03 | 90% | PA | BAT CAVE BAPTIST CHURCH – Dirt Berm Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $1,102,078.80 in federal funding to the Bat Cave Baptist Church for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
| $1,092,218.46 | $1,092,218.46 | 100% | PA | FRENCH BROAD ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION – Capitola Dam Declaration Date: 9/28/2024 This award provides $7,305,852.03 in federal funding to the French Broad Electric Membership Corporation for permanent repairs as a result of FEMA-DR-4827-NC (Tropical Storm Helene). This funding is authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. |
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