(The Center Square) – Areas of western North Carolina declared federal disaster areas following Hurricane Helene are included in a $1.45 billion grant program from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
The announcement was made Wednesday by Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick and second-term Republican President Donald Trump.
The Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program will, says the agency, help six different sectors: state, local and Tribal governments; economic development districts; institutions of higher education; economic development organizations; public and private nonprofits working with local governments; and public-private partnerships for public infrastructure. The projects must be in or primarily serve or demonstrably benefit the communities in areas that received a major disaster declaration in calendar years 2023 or 2024.
The Economic Development Administration funds up to 80% of projects in most cases and may go to 100% for Tribal applicants.
This weekend commences the 37th week of recovery from the storm that claimed the lives of 107 in North Carolina, 236 across seven states, and did an estimated $60 billion in damage in the Tarheel State. It is arguably the worst natural disaster in state history.
The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Dekle Beach, Fla., on Sept. 26. It was expected to come north to the Appalachian Mountains; however, the rainfall total from its dissipation there exceeded all forecasts.
Some places got more than 30 inches, most were at 24 inches or more. Due to terrain, water often rushed before it pooled and flooded – very unlike the hurricane flooding that happens in the coastal plains.
North Carolina lawmakers are considering a $450 million spending package for Hurricane Helene recovery that would push General Assembly appropriations to $1.85 billion.
The General Assembly passed three packages last year and another this spring. A congressional package of $110 billion passed in December included about $9 billion for the state. FEMA assistance grants and packages have eclipsed $1 billion.
