NC Coastal Communities Secure Millions in Helene Recovery Funds

RALEIGH, N.C. (Day.News) — As North Carolina's coastal communities mark 19 months since Hurricane Helene's devastation, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has channeled hundreds of millions into recovery and resilience. In 2025, DEQ awarded $365 million in grants for water infrastructure repairs and resiliency projects statewide, with a significant portion targeting eastern counties. The Division of Water Infrastructure accessed $685 million in supplemental EPA funds for drinking water, wastewater, and septic systems damaged by the storm, completing two funding rounds to date. Coastal-specific initiatives underscore the state's focus on barrier islands and waterfronts. The Division of Coastal Management's Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) distributed $6 million to 32 communities, including $1.9 million for risk assessments and resilience planning integrated into Coastal Area Management Act land use plans, and over $4 million for engineering and construction. Separately, the Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Program granted more than $2.25 million for 10 projects enhancing access to beaches and waterways, while the Division of Water Resources allocated $9.39 million for five beach and dune renourishment efforts in coastal areas under the Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund. Western North Carolina's mountains aren't alone in the recovery spotlight, as FEMA's latest $255.8 million infusion highlights ongoing needs across the state, including $57 million for NCDOT road repairs. DEQ's Dam Safety Program also launched a $10 million state fund per House Bill 1012 for rehabilitating Helene-damaged high-hazard dams. These efforts, detailed in DEQ's January 2026 press release, build on federal commitments exceeding $5 billion for nearly 2,400 public assistance projects and aid to 161,000 households, fortifying North Carolina's shores for storms ahead.