Haywood County staff outlines hazard-mitigation options, highlights new FEMA landslide-assistance track

Travis, a county mitigation staffer, told the Haywood County Board of Commissioners that hazard mitigation remains the county’s primary recovery focus and walked the board through program options—acquisition, elevation, reconstruction—and a newly added FEMA landslide-assistance track.

“Our big push still is hazard mitigation,” Travis said as he reviewed hotline and application resources, adding that printed applications are available at 141 Hemlock Street and online at readyhaywood.com. He said the program is voluntary and county staff have received 31 acquisition applications, one reconstruction request and 10 landslide-assistance inquiries to date.

Travis outlined practical help for residents: the county’s hotline (828-356-2020), a mitigation contact (Cody Grama, (828) 476-0285, mitigation@haywoodcountync.gov) and a planned April 1 window for accepting formal applications. He also told commissioners that landslide assistance is a new FEMA policy track released in July and that staff are in active coordination with the state and FEMA to define how the program will operate locally.

Commissioners pressed staff on eligibility, site requirements and the difference between elevation and buyout options. Travis said elevation requires structurally sound homes, while buyouts remove repeatedly damaged properties from flood-prone parcels. The briefing closed with an invitation for residents to contact the mitigation office for intake and to be put on lists for potential acquisition or other assistance.