Asheville staff seek authority to work with Buncombe County on FEMA hazard-mitigation buyouts and elevations

Recovery Coordinator Bridget Herron told Asheville City Council at a March 20 agenda briefing that the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) will be administered to North Carolina using a state-centric model and that the city needs an interlocal agreement with Buncombe County to facilitate any property acquisitions within Asheville city limits.

"This is a federally funded program. It is being administered by the state using the state-centric model," Herron said. She said the program offers options for private property owners to voluntarily apply for acquisition, elevation, reconstruction or other mitigations intended to break the cycle of repetitive damage.

Key points Herron gave council: North Carolina has roughly $1,500,000,000 allocated for this program; the state will accept applications through Oct. 30, 2025 (staff cited the state deadline); the state (North Carolina Department of Public Safety/Emergency Management) will process applications and work with FEMA; and the county will batch and forward applications, so the city needs an interlocal agreement to receive notifications and accept properties the city chooses to retain in perpetuity.

Herron summarized the current application snapshot the county provided: 21 commercial acquisition applications (three listed with institutional restrictions), seven residential acquisitions; two commercial and 12 residential elevation applications; and two residential land-stabilization applications. Herron cautioned these are applications in process and not approvals; individual application details remain confidential until acquisition is completed and deeds recorded.

If the council approves the resolution on the March 25 business agenda, the resolution would authorize the city manager to represent the city in program dealings and sign paperwork to acquire properties that staff recommends accepting. Herron said that if staff recommends denying an application, the matter would return to council for a final decision; if staff recommends acceptance, the city manager would be authorized to proceed without additional council votes so the process can move efficiently for applicants.

Herron and councilors discussed how the city should coordinate outreach. Several council members asked for more proactive local outreach to commercial property owners in the River Arts District because the city’s damage assessment shows a high proportion of commercial damage; Herron and staff said they would work with county and state staff and the city’s communications team to amplify messaging and pursue in-person briefings with state staff where feasible.

Staff cautioned council about dependencies and timing: FEMA site inspections, debris removal and state processing must occur before acquisitions and temporary measures proceed. Council members also noted that although Congress has allocated funding for the program, staff reported the state had not yet received all federal funds, which could lengthen timelines.

Staff asked council to adopt a resolution on the March 25 business agenda that: (1) authorizes the city manager to represent the city and sign necessary documents related to HMGP acquisitions; and (2) approves an interlocal agreement with Buncombe County to receive application packages and coordinate local review. Herron said staff will provide quarterly updates to council on the status of applications and acquisitions.