Helene recovery in Western North Carolina faces new funding hurdles

Residents in Western North Carolina face longer waits for disaster assistance and higher hurdles to qualify for federal help. A new three-episode investigation by Blue Ridge Public Radio and FRONTLINE documents how policy shifts under the current administration have altered the flow of funds for Hurricane Helene recovery.

Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024. The storm killed at least 107 people across the state. It caused historic flooding and landslides. The total damage is estimated at nearly $60 billion. The investigation, which relied on hundreds of government records and dozens of interviews, found that administrative changes have delayed or denied aid to many who qualified under previous rules.

In early 2025, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem implemented a new requirement for disaster relief funds. This action created a $17 billion backlog in aid to states. Decisions by the Department of Government Efficiency and cuts to FEMA staff further slowed the process. Local governments in North Carolina are still waiting for reimbursements for tens of millions of dollars spent on recovery efforts.

Much of that unclaimed money covers debris removal. Without the funds, some counties cannot continue cleaning up. Massive piles of debris remain on private property and in rivers throughout the region. Craig Fugate, a former FEMA administrator, described the delay. "You basically lost two years of recovery," he said.

Homeowners have also faced stricter rules. The administration revoked a Biden-era policy that made it easier for people who lost homes to qualify for FEMA buyouts. This change occurred months after the storm, after North Carolina officials had begun processing applications. The state had to spend months reapplying for buyouts. Some homeowners who previously qualified were turned away.

Steve Hayo, a homeowner in the region, described the impact of the storm. "When you get hit by something like this … what you thought your world was is now completely gone," he said.

Long-term recovery funding remains uncertain. Congress has not approved specific long-term recovery funding for Helene since President Trump took office. Without additional money, roughly 2,100 eligible homeowners in North Carolina will not receive help from the state’s RENEW NC home rebuilding program.

Matt Calabria, director of the Governor's Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, emphasized the need for new money. "An additional congressional appropriation is perhaps the single most important thing that can happen for North Carolina's recovery from Hurricane Helene," he said.

The political landscape in Congress is changing. Following the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats will hold a majority in both the U.S. House and Senate starting in January. Jamie Ager, the first Democrat elected to Congress from Western North Carolina in 16 years, has made securing recovery funding his top priority. "I feel like we can go push on that, and remind people that this community still has a long way to go to recover, and part of my job is to help deliver that funding," Ager said.

Former Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is also headed to the U.S. Senate. He will work with the Trump administration to secure additional funding. The investigation was produced by Blue Ridge Public Radio with support from FRONTLINE’s Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.