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CHIMNEY ROCK VILLAGE, N.C. — Standing in front of the Village Fire Department with the sound of construction in the background, Chimney Rock Village Administrator and Finance Officer Steve Duncan described the town’s recovery as both promising and frustrating.
“We are coming alive,” Duncan exclusively told me on Tuesday, noting that a dozen or so businesses have reopened thanks to restored water and sewer service powered by a temporary treatment system. “That’s really key.”
But the pace of recovery depends on more than local determination. FEMA has reimbursed hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on cleanup and infrastructure repairs. Yet, Duncan said, once FEMA transfers funds to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, the money often stalls.
“FEMA is really the only entity that’s given us money,” Duncan said. “The question isn’t, is FEMA giving this money? The question is, how much has FEMA obligated and transferred to the state that the state has yet to transfer to the recipients?”
He explained that while a few reimbursements have come through within weeks, most take four to six weeks or longer after state review. That timeline, Duncan argued, slows down recovery not just in Chimney Rock Village but also in communities like Marshall and Burnsville.
“We need the money like yesterday,” he said.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is requiring her office to review and sign off on all contracts and awards over $100,000, according to reports.
Roads Open, Security in Place
Visitors can access Chimney Rock Village from Lake Lure on the east side, where roads are open but active with truck traffic. The west side remains limited to a temporary road for local use, expected to remain in place for three years.
Law enforcement remains a visible presence in the village, with as many as five agencies sharing responsibilities. FEMA has approved $660,000 for locally hired security officers who are certified through Basic Law Enforcement Training. These officers help manage traffic, deter hazards, and patrol neighborhoods while backed up by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Lure Police, Highway Patrol, and Henderson County authorities.
Governor Stein Silent on State Delay — Says Money Has Been ‘Obligated’
In a statement on social media later on Tuesday, Democrat Governor Josh Stein said, “Good news: Department of Homeland Security and FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency have obligated a significant portion of outstanding public assistance grants to support Hurricane Helene recovery. These funds will support our ongoing relief efforts, and I appreciate Secretary Noem and Acting Administrator Richardson’s approval and our congressional delegation’s support. I look forward to their continued support of western NC’s road to recovery.”
A Town Ready to Welcome Visitors
Duncan encouraged the public to return.
“We enjoy their company,” he said. “We hope they’ll enjoy our restaurants that are beginning to open, buy some retail, and help us come back and be the town, not what we were, but even better than we were.”
Editor’s note: A version of this story may also appear on WCABNews.com.
