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Haywood County emergency director reports 954 structures affected, $12.7 million in FEMA aid awarded
Summary
Emergency Services Director Zach Koons told commissioners that Tropical Storm Helene affected 954 structures in Haywood County (excluding Canton), with 57 destroyed and 152 with major damage; FEMA has awarded $12,717,422 in individual assistance and the local Disaster Recovery Center remains open at 112 Industrial Court.
Emergency Services Director Zach Koons told the Haywood County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 18 that Tropical Storm Helene damaged hundreds of properties across the county and that federal assistance is already flowing to survivors.
"We've had over 954 structures that were affected in Haywood County," Koons said, adding that 57 structures were destroyed and 152 suffered major damage. Koons said county crews have validated 343 private-access submissions from a total of 523 citizen reports and that debris removal within Haywood County jurisdiction totals more than 10,800 cubic yards — "about three Olympic swimming pools" of material, he said.
Koons said FEMA registrations in the county number 8,798 and that individual assistance awards total $12,717,422 so far. "Sixteen of those registrations so far have received the max out of pocket grant from FEMA, which is a $42,500," he said. He told commissioners the local Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at 112 Industrial Court is open daily and will reduce hours beginning Dec. 2; the final day to apply for individual assistance is Jan. 7, 2025.
During follow-up questions, Koons confirmed the FEMA $42,500 figure is a per-household cap for individual assistance and said communities that share a single access point can each apply and potentially combine awards toward a single repair project subject to FEMA inspection and project-estimate review. He advised residents who already spent money on repairs to still register and keep photos and receipts in case they can recoup costs.
The county also posted resource information, including legal aid and local partner organizations, on readyhaywood.com and has routed debris and damage documentation to FEMA and North Carolina Emergency Management for further processing.
