EXCLUSIVE: Rutherford County gets biggest share of newly released $3.2M FEMA aid
Rutherford County receives the largest award, Rep. Tim Moore said, as FEMA approves additional recovery projects across North Carolina’s 14th District.
WASHINGTON — Congressman Tim Moore (R, NC-14) said today that more than $3.2 million in additional Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding has been approved for Hurricane Helene recovery projects across North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District, with Rutherford County receiving the largest single allocation.
The latest round of FEMA funding totals approximately $3.23 million and will support infrastructure repairs, utility restoration, engineering work, and administrative costs associated with the recovery from Hurricane Helene, which devastated much of Western North Carolina in September 2024.
“While Western North Carolina has come a long way since Hurricane Helene, many communities are still working to recover,” Moore said. “This funding provides much-needed support to the communities that stepped up during the storm and helps ensure recovery efforts can continue without placing additional strain on local taxpayers. I’m grateful to President Trump, Secretary Mullin, and FEMA for their continued commitment to helping Western North Carolina rebuild stronger than ever.”
The largest award — $1,811,429.39 — was approved for Rutherford County to reimburse management costs incurred during the disaster response and recovery. The funding covers both direct and indirect administrative expenses incurred by local government and is reimbursed at a 100% federal cost share under Section 324 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
The announcement comes as Rutherford County continues to oversee one of the largest Hurricane Helene recovery operations in Western North Carolina. The county has managed extensive debris removal, infrastructure restoration, and coordination with state and federal agencies since the storm struck.
Additional FEMA awards announced by Moore include:
$566,123.14 for the City of Kings Mountain to repair or replace utility poles, transformers, and gas lines damaged during the storm.
$403,563.66 for the Town of Lake Lure to repair damaged roads, embankments, and related infrastructure.
$295,260.43 for the City of Morganton to fund engineering and design services related to disaster recovery projects.
$156,599.91 for Western Piedmont Community College to repair damaged decks, boardwalks, fencing, and related facilities.
Except for Rutherford County’s administrative funding under Section 324, the remaining projects are funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program under Section 406 of the Stafford Act, which provides federal assistance to repair or replace disaster-damaged public infrastructure.
The funding represents another installment in the federal government’s ongoing investment in Helene recovery, nearly two years after the storm caused catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread infrastructure damage across Western North Carolina.
Moore, whose district includes Rutherford, Cleveland, Burke, and Gaston counties along with portions of Mecklenburg and Polk counties, has continued to advocate for additional federal disaster assistance as local governments work through long-term recovery projects.
For Rutherford County, the additional reimbursement provides relief for administrative costs associated with managing one of the region’s largest disaster recovery efforts, allowing local officials to continue recovery work without shifting those expenses to county taxpayers.
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