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Officials: FEMA rules and state programs limit how much river debris county crews can remove
Summary
County and Soil & Water officials told commissioners FEMA-approved debris removal is narrowly scoped to infrastructure (culverts, bridges, driveways) and that state SMART and EWP funding constrain what the county can directly fund; officials estimated FEMA/contractors are working at roughly 100–150 sites across the county.
County staff and the Soil & Water director explained to commissioners that debris removal after flooding is being handled primarily through FEMA and state programs that set strict limits on allowable work. An agency official said the county has submitted scoping documents for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program and is awaiting federal assignment of funds; "we do not know exactly," the official said of FEMA approvals, and noted the state SMART program now controls some funding streams.
Dwayne Vanhook of the Soil & Water office told the board he estimates contractors are working at roughly "between 100 and 150 sites" across the county, but said FEMA approvals are tightly focused on clearing debris adjacent to infrastructure. Officials urged residents to work with county contacts for site-specific questions and said they would invite state contractors or NC Emergency Management representatives to a future meeting to clarify current coverage and next steps.
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