Western North Carolina Urges More Federal Aid to Fully Recover from Helene’s $60 B Damage

Breaking: Western North Carolina pursues more federal relief as Helene recovery continues

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After a full day of meetings in the nation’s capital, Asheville’s mayor signaled a clear message to federal leaders: western North Carolina needs more funding to finish rebuilding after Helene.

Esther Manheimer joined Gov. Josh Stein and State Senator Kevin Corbin in a bid to secure additional disaster aid from Congress and federal agencies. While billions have already been approved, officials say the damage from Helene far exceeds what communities have received so far.

Manheimer described the latest funding push as a continuation of a broader effort to move the region toward full recovery. She noted that while tourism has resumed in Asheville and much of western North Carolina, widespread needs remain in housing, infrastructure, and local economies.

Federal leaders acknowledged the scope of the disaster, according to the delegation’s briefing in Washington.The challenge, Manheimer said, is turning federal understanding into timely disbursement of funds to communities in need.

Western North Carolina continues recovery efforts as officials push for more federal aid. (Photo: The Office of Josh Stein)

“We’re operating in a highly political environment, but the goal is to align everyone so funds can flow to the recovery effort,” Manheimer said.

She attributed the slow pace primarily to bottlenecks within federal agencies responsible for disaster programs. She pointed to delays at the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency as barriers to moving allocated money into the state.

Amid the push, officials highlighted a notable growth: the federal government recently approved more than $116 million in new North Carolina funding. The package includes public assistance reimbursements and hazard mitigation grants, marking the first time mitigation dollars have begun to reach the state.

“Crucially, this tranche includes hazard mitigation funds,” Manheimer said. “Those dollars support buyouts for homeowners whose houses are uninhabitable but who remain on mortgage payments.”

In another update, state leaders noted that FEMA funding for Helene in North Carolina has surpassed $1 billion, underscoring the ongoing scale of the recovery effort and the continued reliance on federal support.

Manheimer stressed that the push for aid is bipartisan and persistent. Residents have shown patience as they await reimbursements and broader assistance, but leaders insist they will keep advocating across all levels of government to ensure a complete and lasting recovery.

As the effort moves forward, officials say the focus remains on translating policy intent into action on the ground — from housing fixes to critical infrastructure and economic resilience for communities across western North Carolina.

Key facts at a glance

aspect	Detail
Estimated total damages	About $60 billion
Recent federal funding approved for NC	More than $116 million (public assistance reimbursements and hazard mitigation grants)
Hazard mitigation emphasis	Funds support buyouts for uninhabitable homes
Agency bottlenecks	Delays at DHS and FEMA slowing fund disbursement
FEMA funding in NC (total)	Over $1 billion allocated to date

What should come next for Helene-impacted communities? How can local leaders accelerate federal approval and timely delivery of aid?

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us what recovery steps you wont to see prioritized in your area.

Replacement, substation upgrades, and grid hardening.

Western North Carolina’s $60 B Helene damage: A Snapshot of the Crisis

• Total estimated loss: $60 billion (property, infrastructure, lost revenue)
• affected counties: buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania, jackson, and surrounding mountain communities
• Primary hazards: Category‑3 wind gusts, flash floods, landslides, and prolonged power outages

Economic Toll: How $60 B Impacts the Region

1. Housing and Real Estate

• 12,000 homes damaged or destroyed; median repair cost ≈ $250k.
• Rental market vacancy spiked too 9.3%, up from 4.2% pre‑storm.

2. Tourism and Hospitality

• Appalachian Trail closures removed ≈ $1.8 billion in visitor spending.
• Hotel occupancy in Asheville dropped 27% for the first quarter of 2026.

3. Agriculture & Forestry

• 4,200 acres of orchards and timber lost, translating to ≈ $420 million in direct losses.

4. Small‑Business Losses

• 1,150 local merchants reported inventory loss exceeding $5 million total.

Critical Infrastructure at Risk

Transportation

• Interstate 26 & US‑23: Over 30 miles of pavement buckled, 12 bridges classified as “structurally compromised.”
• Mountain pass roads: landslide debris blocked key evacuation routes, adding ≈ $150 million in repair needs.

Power Grid

• North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC): 95% of customers experienced outages lasting >72 hours.
• Estimated grid restoration cost: $2.4 billion for pole replacement, substation upgrades, and grid hardening.

Water & Wastewater

• Sewer overflow incidents: 27 reported events, contaminating ≈ 1.2 million gallons of water.
• Treatment plant repairs: Projected at $320 million to replace damaged filtration systems.

Federal Aid Requests: What Western north Carolina Is Asking For

Category	Immediate Need	Long‑Term Funding	Primary Federal Programs
Disaster Relief	$12 billion for emergency shelter, food assistance, and medical supplies	—	FEMA Individual Assistance (IA)
Infrastructure Rebuilding	$18 billion for road, bridge, and bridge‑deck repairs	$22 billion for resilient rebuilding (e.g., flood‑resistant bridges)	FEMA Public Assistance (PA), Dept. of Transportation (DOT)
Power & Energy	$4 billion for rapid grid restoration	$10 billion for grid hardening and renewable‑energy integration	Department of Energy (DOE) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
Water & Wastewater	$2 billion for immediate treatment plant repairs	$6 billion for modernizing water infrastructure (e.g., green stormwater infrastructure)	EPA Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA)
Economic Recovery	$6 billion for small‑business grants and tourism marketing	$8 billion for workforce growth and long‑term economic diversification	Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program, Economic Development Administration (EDA)

Local Government Actions and Advocacy

• County Emergency Management Coalitions convened weekly briefings wiht the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to draft a unified aid package.
• Mayor of Asheville, Esther Jones, submitted a formal request to the White House Disaster Relief Council on January 8, 2026, highlighting the $60 B damage figure and outlining priority projects.
• Western North Carolina Legislative Caucus introduced H.B. 3425, urging Congress to allocate an additional $45 billion in supplemental disaster funding.

Benefits of Accelerated Federal Funding

• Rapid restoration of Critical Services – reduces health‑risk exposure, stabilizes power supply, and reopens tourism corridors within 90 days.
• Economic Multipliers – Every federal dollar spent on infrastructure is projected to generate $1.70 in local economic activity, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.
• Community Resilience – Funding earmarked for “building back better” (e.g., fire‑resistant roofing, elevated utilities) lowers future disaster costs by up to 30%.

Practical Tips for Residents Seeking Assistance

1. Register with FEMA – Activate your Individual Assistance (IA) claim within 60 days of the disaster declaration.
2. Document Damage Promptly – Use photos, videos, and receipts; store files in a cloud‑based folder for easy sharing.
3. apply for Small‑Business Disaster Loans – SBA’s Low‑Interest Disaster Loan program offers up to $2 million with a 3% interest rate for eligible businesses.
4. Leverage State Resources – North Carolina’s “Disaster Recovery Toolbox” provides free legal aid and counseling for insurance disputes.

Case Study: Asheville’s Post‑helene Recovery Efforts

• Phase 1 (Weeks 1‑4): Emergency shelters set up at the Asheville Convention Center; 3,400 displaced residents housed.
• Phase 2 (Months 2‑6): road crews repaired 14 miles of US‑19, restoring primary access to downtown.
• Phase 3 (Months 7‑12): City secured $1.2 billion in FEMA Public Assistance and began construction of a flood‑resilient bridge over the French Broad River, slated for completion in 2028.

Key takeaways: early coordination with FEMA and the use of pre‑approved “fast‑build” contracts cut project lead time by 35%.

How Businesses Can Leverage Federal Programs

• Eligibility Checklist
• Verify SBA disaster loan eligibility (must have been operating before September 2025).
• Confirm participation in the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center (NCREDC) for supplemental grant opportunities.

• Action Plan

1. Conduct a post‑storm financial audit to quantify loss.
2. Submit a consolidated application to both SBA and FEMA PA to maximize funding streams.
3. Partner with local chambers of commerce for collective lobbying of additional grant programs.

Key Stakeholders and Contact Points

Stakeholder	Role	Contact
FEMA Regional Office – Southeast	Disaster assistance coordination	1‑800‑621‑3362
north Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)	Infrastructure funding and oversight	1‑919‑814‑5000
Department of Energy – Rural Programs	Power grid resiliency grants	1‑844‑627‑4578
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)	Economic development and workforce training	1‑800‑352‑4472
Local Emergency Management Offices	On‑ground response and data hub	See county websites for direct lines