Progress and Dashboard

Safe housing for western NC families is at the forefront of our disaster recovery. Our goal is to ensure that families and individuals displaced are given options that meet their needs for safe, temporary housing. Temporary shelter, rental assistance, travel trailer, and other housing programs are providing safe housing for thousands of families until they can return home. Outreach to families who have reported that their homes were destroyed or suffered major damage has taken place to confirm they have their preferred temporary housing. The state will continue making calls in an effort to contact all residents whose homes were destroyed or suffered major damage. As recovery continues, we will focus on permanent solutions, using the $1.65 billion so-far secured from the federal government to repair and rebuild single-family homes and increase affordable rental options across the region.

Restoring western North Carolina’s infrastructure is vital not only to ensure residents can access their homes, places of work, and essential services; it is also crucial for long-term economic recovery and growth. Alongside our federal partners, the state has worked to repair or rebuild over 1,000 roads across western North Carolina, clear storm-related debris, and restore power and water access to thousands of residents. I-40, an essential lifeline in the area, is open with two lanes between NC and TN as of March 1. Additionally, half of all state parks and cultural sites impacted by the storm have been fully reopened, and all but three are open for visitors in some capacity. Yet we recognize we have a long ways to go. As recovery progresses, we focused on accelerating clearing of debris, restoring residents’ private roads and bridges, and revitalizing essential public services to help people return to their lives.

Revitalizing western North Carolina’s economy is critical for the region's recovery. The state and its partners have set up a grant program and loan programs to support small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. Beyond this immediate relief, the state is advocating for additional programs to revitalize downtowns, support local governments, and boost tourism across the region. More information about additional programs, such as commercial district revitalization opportunities, will be available as those programs are implemented. These efforts aim to revitalize western North Carolina’s economy, foster economic growth and activity, and ensure that the region can thrive.