News

FEMA announces $26 million to buy Helene-destroyed properties

By Lightning Reports, Published: April 6, 2026

Eighteen homes in Fletcher, Gerton and Hendersonville severely damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene are among 75 properties in Henderson, Polk and Yancey counties awarded $26 million in FEMA funding to eliminate flood risks, the agency announced.

The state will use this funding, administered through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, to bringing needed relief to the homeowners, FEMA said. The agency was acting at the direction of the new Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, who has brought a renewed sense of urgency to the pending buyout requests, according to a news release.

These buyouts are critical for individuals who survived the storms but whose homes were permanently damaged by floods or landslides. After a disaster, homeowners are often still required to pay mortgages, property taxes and other expenses on their homes even if they are unlivable. By buying the properties from the homeowners, state and local officials lessen the financial burden on these survivors and ensure that the community is more resilient to future flood damage. In addition to the 75 buyouts announced today, Secretary Mullin also instructed FEMA to clear the remaining backlog of buyout requests and expedite approvals to the greatest extent possible. 

to Polk County to acquire and demolish four properties, returning the land to green space to prevent future flood damage.
o Yancey County to acquire and demolish 53 properties, returning the land to green space to prevent future flood and landslide damage.

The FEMA appropriation included $5,197,609 to acquire and demolish the 18 properties in Henderson County, returning the land to green space to prevent future flood and landslide damage. Funding announced Monday also included $1,051,554 for the acquisition of four homes damaged by floods in the Tryon and Saluda and $19,861,597 to buy 53 homes damaged by landslides in Yancey County. 

"These funds provide critical support for families still rebuilding,” U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards said in a statement.“They allow communities to convert vulnerable properties to green space, reduce future disaster risk, and make Western North Carolina stronger and more resilient."

FEMA expects to award more funding for property buyouts acquisitions in the weeks ahead. Many pending applications were severely stalled last year because of an eligibility issue: state-planned road repair work on or near the properties meant they did not meet federal acquisition standards set forth in regulation. This is just one example of how red tape impacts survivors and delays recovery. 

Now under new leadership, FEMA is redoubling its efforts to find a creative solution to administrative and regulatory challenges. Last week, FEMA finalized a plan to address properties impacted by road construction and shared next steps with the state of North Carolina. FEMA will continue to work with North Carolina Emergency Management and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to bring resolution to each of these pending properties. 

FEMA is reimbursing the costs at a 75 percent federal share. Federally funded hazard mitigation projects include efforts like restoring natural floodplains; strengthening critical facilities like hospitals and wastewater treatment plants; improving drainage; and buying high-risk homes to demolish them or move them to higher, safer ground. 

FEMA continues reviewing additional projects to acquire flood-prone properties and remove them as flood-related threats. This week's funding announcement follows the March 2026 award of $66 million for hazard mitigation projects in the state, including more than $47 million for 150 property buyouts.