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Buncombe County begins long-term recovery planning after Helene; officials plan to align new strategic plan with recovery needs
Summary
Buncombe County is shifting from immediate storm response to a coordinated, multi‑year recovery plan that staff say will align with the county’s strategic plan and prioritize housing, jobs and early, visible projects.
Buncombe County officials said the county is transitioning from emergency response to organized long-term recovery planning after Tropical Storm Helene, with an emphasis on using the county’s strategic plan as the basis for recovery priorities.
County recovery lead Rachel Sawyer and strategy staff described a framework that links FEMA/state recovery support functions to the county’s existing 2025 strategic plan and the next planning cycle. Officials emphasized that recovery work will not be siloed: it will permeate departments and will require coordinated funding, grant management and community engagement.
Where staff will focus first
Officials identified three practical near-term priorities for recovery planning and FY 2026 budgeting:
- Housing and sheltering: county leaders flagged housing repair, transitional sheltering assistance and potential buyout programs for flood-prone properties as central priorities for the next 12–36…
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