Federal $116 million aid funds North Carolina Helene recovery

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the federal government approved more than $116 million to support North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene and to invest in measures meant to reduce future disaster damage. The funding package, disclosed January 14, 2026, directs money to immediate repairs and longer-term hazard mitigation across the state, with specific allocations affecting Buncombe County and the city of Asheville.

Of the approved funds, more than $72 million will reimburse or directly fund rebuilding and restoration of critical public infrastructure, debris removal from public roads, and repairs to roads and bridges damaged by Helene. An additional $44.6 million is designated for hazard mitigation investments designed to protect communities from future flooding and severe weather events.

FEMA Public Assistance grants within the federal package include $34.7 million awarded to the North Carolina Department of Transportation to repair roads and bridges at more than 300 sites statewide, including projects that involve Buncombe County. The city of Asheville received $10.5 million to address potable water distribution problems, repair fleet vehicles, make fixes at the DeBruhl Water Treatment Plant, and conduct road repairs. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program investments will include about $14.2 million targeted at acquiring flood-prone properties in Buncombe County.

For Buncombe residents, the immediate effects should include progress on damaged roads and bridges and restored services tied to potable water infrastructure in Asheville. Property acquisition dollars offer a path to reduce repeat flood damage in areas identified as high risk, though buyouts and mitigation projects can take months or longer to design, approve and implement. Local officials will need to coordinate site-level planning, public outreach and the logistics of acquisitions or relocations where property buyouts are pursued.

Policy implications for Buncombe County include reduced short-term fiscal pressure on local budgets for disaster repairs and a heavier emphasis on preventative investments that shift long-term risk management from response to mitigation. Implementing hazard mitigation effectively will require sustained coordination among FEMA, state agencies, Buncombe County, and Asheville municipal staff to prioritize projects and communicate timelines to affected residents.

Residents should expect to see planning documents, public notices and construction schedules from county, city and state agencies as work proceeds. These federal dollars are intended to repair infrastructure damaged by Helene and to help communities rebuild with stronger protections against future storms; how quickly and equitably those protections reach neighborhoods across Buncombe will depend on local planning decisions and resident engagement in the coming months.