News

Laurel Park gets $1.7 million to repair Roberts Drive

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 8, 2026

FEMA announced nearly $33 million in funding for more than 20 recovery and mitigation projects to help North Carolina communities recover from Helene and other disasters including $1.7 million to the town of Laurel Park to repair Roberts Drive.

This funding is part of more than $348 million that FEMA announced for almost 170 projects nationwide. 

FEMA is awarding more than $30.4 million for 19 Public Assistance projects to reimburse North Carolina communities for the costs of road repairs, emergency protective measures and infrastructure repairs. Notable projects include: 

• $15.8 million to the city of Graham to repair the Graham-Mebane Spillway.
• $9.7 million to the North Carolina Department of Transportation to repair roads, bridges and embankments damaged by Helene and Tropical Storm Chantal.
• $1.7 million to Laurel Park to repair Roberts Drive. 
• $1.1 million to Spruce Pine for emergency protective measures and to repair a storm drain system. 
• $775,000 to Double Island Fire Department to repair roads and culverts. 

FEMA is also awarding more than $618,000 through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to acquire flood-prone properties damaged by Helene in Robeson County and the city of Shelby. The properties will be converted into permanent open space to prevent, eliminate, or reduce future disaster damage. In total, FEMA has provided funding for the state to acquire more than 500 properties.

In addition, FEMA approved $1.5 million to fund the state’s disaster case management program that directly supports individuals and families with ongoing disaster needs. 

These projects are the latest examples of billions of dollars in disaster recovery provided by FEMA to support state and local communities as they work to rebuild from recent natural disasters.