(The Center Square) – Reimbursement of $12 million to infrastructure and community restoration projects associated with Hurricane Helene’s devastation to western North Carolina has been approved, the Department of Homeland Security says.
Another $32 million was also approved for damage from Tropical Storm Chantal, a release says. The efforts of second-term Republican President Donald Trump, first-term Republican Sen. Ted Budd and Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Michael Whatley were cited for their efforts by the department’s leader.
“The American people deserve a government that fights for their survival and prosperity, not one that kneels to bureaucratic elites,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “With the leadership of President Trump, Sen. Budd, and Chairman Whatley, DHS and FEMA are delivering for North Carolina. Under President Trump’s leadership, DHS is restoring our nation’s strength, securing our communities, and ensuring no American is left behind.”
Since July 14, the recovery reimbursements from the federal government are more than $161 million, Noem says. It’s a $322 million commitment to the state overall through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The state Department of Transportation was awarded $65.2 million for repairs in Buncombe, McDowell, Mitchell, Wilkes, and Yancey counties. There is $5.9 million for the Chimney Rock State Park’s roads, bridge and café through the state Department of Cultural Resources; $5.8 million for Beech Mountain; $2.4 million for EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corp.; $1.5 million for Asheville Christian Academy; $1.4 million for Old Fort; and $1 million for Haywood County.
Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Dekle Beach, Fla., on Sept. 26. It dissipated over the mountains of the state and Tennessee, dropping more than 30 inches in some places and over 24 consistently across more.
In North Carolina, Helene killed 107 and caused an estimated $60 billion in damage. There were 236 deaths across seven states confirmed by The Center Square; other published reports say 250.
Chantal made landfall on July 6 and produced flooding and tornadoes. Six were killed in the state.
Public assistance funding was approved for Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Moore, Orange and Person counties through the Trump administration’s partial approval of first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s request for a major disaster declaration.
