In Buncombe County so far, officials have approved using federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds to buy 23 properties from owners who suffered major damage from floods or landslides during Hurricane Helene.
At Tuesday’s briefing, the Buncombe County Board of Commission heard an update on Hurricane Helene recovery that included a presentation from county and FEMA officials. So far, property owners in Buncombe County have submitted 221 applications. The majority of those applications have been for the acquisition program, which offers a buy-out at a property’s pre-storm appraisal value.
Most of the properties approved for a government buy-out are in Swannanoa, one of the areas hardest hit by floodwaters and landslides brought about by Hurricane Helene in late September.
“These are properties that have overwhelmingly received significant amounts of damage and that's why they were in that first batch,” said Rafael Baptista, the county’s Strategy Innovation Director.
Statewide, $1.5 billion is available for the program. The amount, Baptista said, is “what seems to be a very large pot of money.” But, he warned, that it might not be enough to cover the damage across Western North Carolina and in places outside of the region like Mecklenburg County.
“The reality is, with the need out there, this might be one disaster where there is not sufficient [Hazard Mitigation Grant] funding to meet the needs,” he said.
While property buyouts are the top priority for the federal funding, Hazard Mitigation grants can also be used for landslide stabilization and mitigation projects and government projects that will improve resilience and decrease risk in future storms.
Examples of the latter may include wildfire risk mitigation or other community-wide projects that increase climate resiliency.
If a property owner sells under the program, the land will then be deeded to Buncombe County for parks, greenways and other municipal projects, according to Steve McGugan, the state’s Hazard Mitigation Officer.
The application deadline for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is Oct. 31, 2025. Find more application details.
Commissioners pass a resolution in support of Eastern Hellbenders
Also Tuesday, commissioners unanimously passed a resolution that supports adding the Eastern Hellbender to the federal government’s endangered species list. Eastern Hellbenders live in high mountain streams throughout the region and are the largest salamander in North America. Habitat loss and water quality issues, however, threaten the population.
Biologist Josh Kelley, of the regional conservation organization Mountain True, urged leaders to support adding protections for the species.
“Unfortunately the Hellbender, which is ancient and goes back millions of years in the fossil record, is under severe threat from water quality challenges,” he said. “And those threats have only grown greater with Hurricane Helene. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, hundreds of Hellbenders have been found deceased along local rivers.”
In December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed adding the Eastern Hellbender to the national endangered species list. The commission’s resolution will be added to public comments, which are open through the end of February.
Other tidbits
- Commissioners accepted $2.16 million from the state’s Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Fund. The money is earmarked for local health department use and other post-disaster needs. Some of it will be used for school nurse programs and animal shelter operations, while the county awaits guidance on other uses.
- Commissioners sent a letter to North Carolina lawmakers saying they agree with the recent findings of a school consolidation study that recommends against combining Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools. The local government was required to commission the study, which cost $300,000.
Every first and third Tuesday, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meets at 200 College St., Room 326 in downtown Asheville beginning at 5 p.m. See the full recording and agenda of the Feb. 5 meeting.
