Stein Administration Announces $1B in Helene Water Recovery Funding for WNC

North Carolina officials announced that more than $1 billion has now been awarded for water infrastructure and resilience projects across Western North Carolina as communities continue recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

Gov. Josh Stein and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson made the announcement during a visit to Burnsville on July 17, where officials highlighted ongoing efforts to rebuild drinking water and wastewater systems damaged by the September 2024 storm.

According to DEQ, 98% of water systems damaged by Helene have been restored, but more than $758 million in additional needs remain to repair infrastructure and strengthen systems against future storms.

“Twenty-one months after Hurricane Helene devastated communities throughout western North Carolina, I am proud of the Department of Environmental Quality’s billion-dollar commitment toward ensuring North Carolinians have access to clean and safe water,” Stein said.

Burnsville, located in Yancey County, received $13 million through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Clean Water State Revolving Fund to improve its drinking water supply, distribution system, and sewer infrastructure.

The funding adds to more than $4.5 million in previous emergency bridge loans and technical assistance grants used to replace the town’s damaged raw water intake system. Officials said Burnsville has received more than $17 million in total State Water Infrastructure Authority funding since Helene.

“It's an important milestone that DEQ has awarded over $1 billion for Helene recovery, but in some ways it’s just the beginning,” Wilson said. “In the years ahead we will continue to work hand in hand with local governments and nonprofits to complete these projects as quickly as possible.”

The announcement comes as state officials continue pushing for additional federal assistance. Stein said he has requested $10 billion from Congress for Helene recovery efforts, including $1 billion specifically for water quality, infrastructure repairs, river restoration and hazardous waste management.

Congress has not approved additional Hurricane Helene recovery funding since 2024, according to the governor’s office.

Stein signed Senate Bill 257 into law on July 7, approving North Carolina’s first full state budget in more than two years. The budget includes more than $700 million for Helene recovery, including $20 million for dam repairs and $1 million for landslide risk mapping in areas such as Yancey County.

DEQ officials also pointed to long-term resilience efforts, including the Flood Resiliency Blueprint, which funded 19 flood resilience projects totaling $10 million in the French Broad River Basin.

The agency said the projects are designed not only to repair damage from Helene but also to prepare mountain communities for future severe weather events.

While officials celebrated the $1 billion milestone, they acknowledged that many communities still face significant unmet infrastructure needs as recovery continues nearly two years after the storm.