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By Annie Dance | Lake Lure News | Cops & Congress | News & Commentary
RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. — Rutherford County has been allocated $9.39 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse debris removal and emergency response work carried out in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The funding has been earmarked to support cleanup projects across the county, including clearing waterways, removing debris from roads, and restoring access to public areas following widespread storm damage.
County commissioners are expected to discuss the funding during their April 6 meeting. Deputy County Manager and Finance Director Paula Roach may provide an update on the county’s financial position and the status of reimbursements.
Under FEMA’s Public Assistance process, federal funds are first distributed to the state before being passed on to local governments like Rutherford County.
U.S. Rep. Tim Moore (R, 14th District) said the funding reflects the scale of the county’s response in the days after the storm.
“Rutherford County worked quickly to remove debris in the wake of Hurricane Helene to keep folks safe and increase vehicle access to the areas that were hit hardest,” Moore said in a press release. “It’s great news that they’ll be reimbursed more than $9 million for the work they’ve already done to help their community recover.”
The $9.39 million reimbursement is divided across three major debris removal projects, all funded under Section 407 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. A full list was also shared by Senator Ted Budd.
The first project allocates approximately $1.6 million for debris removal in waterways across Rutherford County. Crews removed more than 19,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris, along with limbs and trees from rivers, streams, ditches and canals. Officials said the work restored flow in critical water channels and addressed immediate safety concerns following the storm. This portion of the project was funded at a 100% federal cost share.
A second project allocates about $3.7 million for debris removal across roads, public property and rights-of-way. Crews cleared more than 75,000 cubic yards of vegetative debris, including downed trees and limbs, helping restore access throughout the county and supporting ongoing recovery efforts. The total cost of this project is approximately $4.16 million and is funded at a 90% federal cost share.
The largest portion of the funding—$4.03 million—is designated for continued debris removal in waterways during later phases of recovery. This project includes the removal of more than 20,000 cubic yards of hazardous trees and vegetative debris from waterways across the county. The total project cost is approximately $4.48 million, with a 90% federal cost share.
Federal funds cover debris removal across waterways, roads, and public property, with money flowing through the state before reaching the county, a standard structure for FEMA reimbursements.
The projects reflect both immediate emergency response and longer-term cleanup, as crews first addressed urgent hazards and later returned to complete more extensive debris removal operations.
The announcement comes after North Carolina’s Republican congressional delegation sent a March 25 letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, urging the release of pending FEMA funding designated for Helene recovery efforts.
Rutherford County’s funding is part of a broader federal response across western North Carolina. Earlier in March, Burke County—also within Moore’s congressional district—received $3.59 million in FEMA funding for flood mitigation and Helene recovery projects.
The FEMA Public Assistance program reimburses local governments for disaster-related expenses, including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and infrastructure repairs. Because counties typically pay upfront for response efforts, reimbursements like those approved for Rutherford County are critical to stabilizing local budgets after major disasters.
In Rutherford County, the scale of debris removal highlights the widespread impact of Helene, particularly in rural and mountainous areas where storm debris can block waterways and isolate communities. Clearing more than 100,000 cubic yards of debris across multiple projects helped restore drainage systems, reduce flood risks, and reopen critical transportation routes.
While the federal funding has been approved, the timing of when the county will receive the funding depends on the state’s disbursement process and final administrative steps.
County commissioners are expected to review the county’s financial outlook during the April 6 meeting, where additional details on the reimbursement timeline and budget impact may be discussed.
For Rutherford County, the $9.39 million in FEMA funding represents a significant step toward offsetting the cost of already completed recovery efforts, while underscoring the continued coordination required among federal, state, and local agencies as the community moves forward from Hurricane Helene.
Catch up with Hurricane Helene recovery news in the Cops & Congress archive.