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Long-term recovery group updates Avery County commissioners on housing progress, cites inspection backlog and skilled labor shortage
Summary
A local recovery group and residents told the Avery County Board of Commissioners the county is seeing home rebuilds and repairs after the September hail event, but delays persist because of inspector shortages and limited skilled volunteer labor.
Charles Dunn, representing the Avery County Long Term Recovery Group, told the Avery County Board of Commissioners on May 14 that several nonprofit and faith-based organizations have begun rebuilding work but that progress is slowed by staffing and inspection bottlenecks.
"I'm Charles Dunn. I've been here before from Avery County Long Term Recovery Group," Dunn said during public comment. He said Appalachia Service Project has broken ground on three homes, holds contracts on five more for a total of eight, and that the group has "secured funding for 30 new homes in Avery County through the Red Cross." Dunn said repairs and rebuilding are also being done by UMCOR and Baptist On Mission and that the recovery group's work includes coordinating volunteers and materials with local contractors.
The county manager praised the Long Term Recovery Group later in the meeting. "I want to brag on the Avery County Long Term Recovery Group. Unbelievable work what they're doing," the manager said, adding the group has hosted out-of-state volunteers and coordinates a recurring Zoom meeting for residents and volunteers.
Resident Meg Hill described personal losses from the Sept. 27, 2024 hail event and outlined administrative delays that have prevented families from moving into replacement homes. "We applied for our septic permit in February. Guess what we ain't got? We haven't even been told to dig the perk holes," she said. Hill urged the county to consider temporary hires or borrowing inspectors from less-affected counties to speed permit reviews.
Dunn and Hill identified two recurring constraints slowing home repairs and rebuilds: inspector capacity at the local health/inspection office and a shortage of skilled volunteer labor such as licensed electricians, plumbers and roofers. Dunn said the recovery group has submitted a "million-dollar grant to the Red Cross" and that, if received, approximately 85% of the funds would go directly to affected families, with the remainder supporting recovery-group infrastructure.
Why it matters: County staff and volunteers described substantial ongoing debris removal and household assistance work across Avery County. Residents said inspection delays and a lack of licensed tradespeople are blocking occupancy for families who have signed contracts for new homes.
County staff and the Long Term Recovery Group encouraged residents to register for FEMA and local assistance programs and to use the group's website for volunteer and funding updates. The county manager said the group will hold a monthly Zoom meeting; details are posted at avryltrg.com.
The statements above were made during the public comment portion of the May 14 meeting and were followed by manager and staff updates describing debris- and recovery-related grants and registrations.
