ASHEVILLE, N.C. — President Joe Biden granted North Carolina's a Federal Major Disaster Declaration as Tropical Storm Helene's impacts continue to shake communities in the western part of the state, Governor Roy Cooper announced on Sunday.
The declaration means FEMA will be able to rush more federal help to 25 North Carolina counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. It also provides public assistance to reimburse local governments, state agencies and non-profits for money spent restoring facilities and infrastructure.
“The people in western North Carolina are hurting from this devastating storm and we are all working to get resources to people as fast as we can,” said Governor Cooper. “We have deployed rescue teams, transportation crews, water, mobile kitchens and more. This is going to be a long-term recovery and this federal declaration will help us respond.”
A federal emergency declaration was already in place prior to the devastating impacts of Helene, and Sunday's declaration enables more aid and immediate assistance for areas that need it.
This declaration will also provide grant funding for future efforts to mitigate the impacts of future storms or disasters there.
It garnered bi-partisan support.
The counties in the declaration include: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties.
The state might be able to add more counties to this list as damage is assessed, Cooper said.
