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Transylvania County details recovery steps after Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene
Summary
County Manager Jaime Laughter reported federal and state recovery resources, hazard mitigation projects now out to bid, and FEMA reviews of private debris removal claims; officials provided specific Rights-of-Entry and work-authorizations counts and said contractor selection for buyouts is expected by July 1.
County Manager Jaime Laughter told the Transylvania County Board of Commissioners on June 8 that recovery from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene is advancing on several fronts, including federal grant availability, hazard mitigation acquisition planning and private property debris removal reviews.
Laughter said a new U.S. Department of Agriculture Disaster Block Grant Program is available to assist farmers and producers affected by Helene, and Cooperative Extension staff are helping local producers with applications. He outlined two state-level programs — Renew NC’s Commercial District Revitalization Program and the Renew NC Small Rental Rehabilitation Program — that can provide federal funds for damaged commercial districts and rental housing repairs.
On hazard mitigation, Laughter said the first group of property-acquisition projects has been released for bid and that contractor selection is anticipated by July 1; several participating property owners could receive purchase offers in the fall. He also reported specific FEMA and debris-removal metrics: "428 Rights of Entry processed, 29 Rights of Entry pending eligibility review, 103 Rights of Entry have received ineligible FEMA determinations, 44 work authorizations issued to haulers, [and] 224 properties have been closed out." The county is coordinating with the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management and FEMA on ongoing debris removal and eligibility reviews.
Laughter noted that assessments of waterways and debris-related impacts are ongoing at multiple locations across the county. He said FEMA has agreed to review previously denied private property debris-removal applications, which could change the status of some households' assistance eligibility.
The board was not asked to take immediate action on these recovery items; staff will return with additional details and recommendations as grant programs move forward and contractor selection is completed.
