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Haywood County gives Helene recovery update; residents urged to apply for FEMA assistance
Summary
Emergency Services Director Travis Donaldson told the county commission that crews removed 33,900 cubic yards of debris after Tropical Storm Helene, outlined assistance deadlines and described new hazard-mitigation and landslide programs for qualifying residents.
Emergency Services Director Travis Donaldson told the Haywood County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 16 that recovery operations from Tropical Storm Helene remain active and urged residents to use county resources and meet upcoming application deadlines.
"A total of 33,900 cubic yards have been picked up in Haywood County," Donaldson said, and he noted that removal numbers include the towns of Waynesville, Canton, Clyde and Maggie Valley as well as unincorporated county areas. He said the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is open at the High-tech Center, 112 Industrial Park Drive, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m.–2 p.m., and he encouraged residents to register for FEMA individual assistance before the Jan. 7 deadline.
Donaldson described several recovery partners working on bridges, roads and housing and highlighted a new landslide-assistance program FEMA rolled out and the state is helping administer. "We're collecting those applications still at our office," he said, adding that applications and in-person help are available at 141 Hemlock Street in Waynesville and via mitigation@haywoodcountync.gov. He reported 15 completed hazard-mitigation applications and 12 in progress, with an interest list near 100 residents.
Commissioners asked whether private bridges and driveways qualify for assistance and how repairs should be documented. Donaldson recommended saving receipts, taking photographs and — for shared private roads — considering pooled individual-assistance applications through FEMA so neighbors can qualify together. He also pointed to free legal and disaster-help resources: legalaidnc.org/disaster and a free disaster-legal hotline (866-219-5262) listed by county staff.
Why it matters: The Jan. 7 deadlines for individual FEMA assistance and disaster-unemployment assistance are time-limited, and the county emphasized documentation and receipts to support later reimbursement claims. County staff said landslide-assistance is a recently added option that may help homeowners whose insurance does not cover such damage.
Next steps: Residents who suffered Helene-related losses should register with FEMA, visit the DRC, and contact county mitigation staff for application help. The county urged people with immediate needs to call listed partner organizations working on recovery.
