Latest news with #TropicalStormHelene
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
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Tropical Storm Helene survivor needs will continue to be met as federal resources shift
As local supports and resources in the Helene recovery transition between Federal and State agencies, FEMA representatives will no longer be on site at the Buncombe County Helene Resource Center as of July 1. Survivors are encouraged to call the FEMA hotline at 1-800-621-3362 or through the FEMA app for any questions regarding status of their benefits. State partners, who will remain on site, are working to ensure a seamless transition for case management needs of Tropical Storm Helene survivors. Ongoing coordination with the State and Buncombe County government will help ensure that survivor needs are met, even as federal resources shift. More: Tropical Storm Helene damaged more than 12K homes in Buncombe County, FEMA data shows Buncombe County remains committed to supporting all affected residents, and further updates will be shared as available. The community is encouraged to continue visiting the Helene Resource Center for additional support at 94 Coxe Ave. in downtown Asheville. The HRC is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and there is free parking in the front lot. For any questions, the public is encouraged to contact the One Buncombe Call Center at (828) 250-6100. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Helene support and resources transition from federal to state agencies
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
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USDA extends deadline for Helene-damaged farms in Western NC to apply for funds
ASHEVILLE - The United States Department of Agriculture extended two critical cost-share programs to help Western North Carolina farmers recover from Tropical Storm Helene, the agency announced June 13. After Helene swept through the state, bringing historic flooding that battered farms in low-lying river valleys, Henderson County's agriculture community alone lost between $135 to $150 million, Cooperative Extension Director Terry Kelley estimated in January. A recent report from the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, an Asheville-based nonprofit, showed 86% of 300 surveyed farmers experienced damage to their operations in WNC and 70% to their land or waterways. The average recovery cost, it said, was $40,000. Now, the USDA through its Farm Service Agency is extending the deadline to Aug. 4 for local growers and nonindustrial private forestland owners to apply for assistance through two programs: The Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program. Here are some details from the USDA on how to apply and who is eligible. The Emergency Conservation Program, administered by the Farm Service Agency, offers financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to repair and restore farmland impacted by natural disasters, including hurricanes. The program helps farmers and ranchers "rehabilitate damaged land, restore agricultural production, and prevent further environmental degradation," according to the agency's website. Approved practices include: debris removal from farmland grading, shaping and releveling permanent fence restoration restoration of conservation practices emergency soil erosion control measures dairy relocation field windbreaks and farmstead shelterbelt restoration Farmers who apply and are approved for the program can receive up to 75% of the cost of these restorations, according to a USDA news release. The maximum cost share is $500,000. Local growers can receive advanced payments up to 25% of the cost before the restoration is completed. These payments must be spent within 60 days, the release said. Helene's impact on local agriculture: Few relief options for Henderson County farmers — local growers face $135 million loss Any farmer or rancher who has suffered damage to their farmland due to a natural disaster is eligible for the program, according to USDA's website. Producers who lease federally owned or managed lands, including tribal trust land, are also eligible. The damage must "significantly impair the land's agricultural productivity or pose a threat to land or water resources," the website says. The program is for restoring farmland to pre-disaster conditions. Conservation concerns on the land that predate the natural disaster are not covered. Helene's impact on small WNC farms: 'Our farm wiped off map from Helene:' ASAP reports impact to small Western NC farmers To apply for the conservation program, producers must submit a request for assistance to their local Farm Service Agency office. The process includes a damage assessment, documentation of the disaster impact, and a description of the proposed conservation measures. To expedite approval, FSA has waived the need for on-site inspection for all non-engineering work. Find the closest Farm Service Agency office in WNC at The Emergency Forest Restoration Program helps non-industrial private forest owners restore forest health damaged by natural disasters, according to USDA's website. To qualify, the private forest must have tree coverage that existed before the natural disaster. Helene damage must harm the natural resources on the land and significantly affect future land use if not remedied. Unlike the conservation program for farmers, payments are not provided upfront. Up to 75% of the cost to implement emergency conservation practices can be provided, however the final amount is determined by the committee reviewing the application, according to the website. The maximum cost share is $500,000 per person for a single natural disaster. The land must be owned or leased by a nonindustrial private person or entity to qualify. Approved disaster recovery includes: debris removal, such as down or damaged trees, to establish a new stand or provide for natural regeneration site preparation, planting materials and labor to replant forest stand restoration of forestland roads, fire lanes, fuel breaks or erosion control structures fencing, tree shelters and tree tubes to protect trees from wildlife damage wildlife enhancement to provide cover openings and wildlife habitat To expedite the process, the USDA has waived the requirement for owners to get approval before conducting debris removal, fence repair and hazard tree removal. To participate in the program, the restorations must meet USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service or state forest agency standards. Forestland owners must also keep records of all restoration costs, including personal labor. Owners should check with their local FSA office to find out about program sign-up periods. More: 190,000 acres of Forest Service land impacted by Helene: What's the plan for downed trees? More: Federal spending cuts kill "massive" plan to plant 10,000 trees in Hendersonville Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@ and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: USDA extends deadline for Helene-damaged farms in Western NC
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
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NC Gov. Stein signs bill into law sending another $500 million to WNC for Helene relief
State lawmakers in the North Carolina General Assembly passed another disaster relief bill June 26 to aid recovery in Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. The September 2024 storm killed more than 100 people and caused an estimated $60 billion in damage. Since Helene hit, state lawmakers have approved nearly $2 billion in spending for the recovery effort. Gov. Josh Stein signed the bill into law at a press event at Chimney Rock State Park in Lake Lure. The popular park reopened June 27, exactly nine months after Helene pummeled Western North Carolina. There, Stein urged people to plan a trip to Western North Carolina, announcing a new tourism initiative with the hopes of attracting more visitors to a region dependent on tourism. 'Nine months ago, (Tropical Storm) Helene devastated western North Carolina's economy," Stein said in a June 27 statement. "Let's make sure our neighbors know we haven't forgotten them." This latest bill moves $700 million to the state's Helene relief fund, of which $500 million will be used to fund road and bridge repairs, help farmers and local governments recoup losses in the wake of Helene, and help pay for other disaster-related needs. A House version of the bill had previously asked for $60 million for small business grants, but the provision didn't make it into the bill's final version. In Asheville, several restaurants and other small businesses have closed after Helene severely disrupted the region's tourism industry. The bill also provides funding to private colleges and universities, like Montreat College and Lees-McRae College, with each receiving $1.5 million. But lawmakers excluded Warren Wilson College, which suffered $12 million in Helene-related losses, according to the college. 'We look forward to having an opportunity to work with legislators to help them understand the extent and gravity of the damages to the College,' Warren Wilson College President Damián J. Fernández said in a June 27 statement. 'We sincerely request that they reconsider providing support to Warren Wilson when the legislative session reconvenes.' Key funding measures include: $75 million for private road and bridge repair $25 million for farm infrastructure loss $15 million for N.C. Forest Service wildfire preparation and equipment $15 million for streamflow rehabilitation $5 million to Visit NC for tourism marketing $10 million to repair, modify or remove Helene-damaged dams $3 million for landslide hazard mapping $8 million for public school infrastructure and building repair $70 million in matching funds for Federal Emergency Management Agency programs $20 million for Helene flood mitigation grants $18 million for nonprofits working on Helene recovery $70 million for local government capital program grants $18 million for volunteer fire departments and rescue squads $2 million each to Western Carolina University and Appalachian State University $2 million UNC Asheville and the North Carolina Arboretum More: NC House lawmakers pass $464M in Helene aid, well short of governor's request More: Stein signs disaster bill that will send more than $500 million to WNC for Helene recovery More: Gov. Stein vetoes bills seeking to expand state, local cooperation with ICE: What's next? Jacob Biba is the Helene recovery reporter at the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jbiba@ This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NC Gov. Josh Stein sends $500 million to WNC for Helene relief with bill
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
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Food banks seek state assistance
HIGH POINT — Food banks in North Carolina, including the one that serves the High Point area, are seeking extra funding from the N.C. General Assembly for the coming fiscal year to cope with greater demand for services and the loss of federal dollars. The food banks want to maintain the $6.1 million that was provided in the current state budget and receive an additional $3 million related to outreach from the impact of Tropical Storm Helene. The state House and Senate are negotiating over a final state budget after different plans were passed by each chamber. 'In light of the current environment and historic numbers of individuals seeking assistance, the food banks requested additional funds for the upcoming year,' Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest N.C. said in a statement to The High Point Enterprise. The state's food banks say that they face pressures of greater demand from people in need and a possible increase in requests for assistance if food stamp benefits are cut in the new federal budget being worked out by Congress, as the House has proposed. The food banks also lost some federal funding when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in March that it was cutting $11 million that food banks in North Carolina had expected to receive through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program. The money was used by food banks to purchase food from local farmers. Second Harvest lost $2 million. The General Assembly has a history of supporting state food banks. The six Feeding America-affiliated food banks in North Carolina — along with Feeding the Carolinas, their state association that serves both Carolinas — have received grants from the state of North Carolina for the past 30 years, according to Second Harvest. Second Harvest serves a network of 500 food assistance programs in an 18-county region, including 17 agencies serving the High Point and Jamestown areas. The food bank's local partners involve 19 food pantries, four shelters and three soup kitchens. On average, local partners rely on Second Harvest for 80% of the food they provide to people in need, the food bank reports. For the new fiscal year starting July 1, Second Harvest is projecting its network will distribute nearly 40 million meals.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
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Where can you swim on Memorial Day? Here are Asheville and Buncombe pool openings.
ASHEVILLE - The city's and Buncombe County's public pools opened for summer over the Memorial Day weekend. Of the city's three pools, only one will be open for the season. Where can you swim this Memorial Day? Here are Asheville and Buncombe pool openings. While the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center pool opened May 24, along with the county's five outdoor pools, the Malvern Hills Park pool remains shuttered following last year's closure. Recreation Park pool, which sits along the Swannanoa River, was devastated by Tropical Storm Helene and also remains closed. The city plans to begin the design process to rebuild parks and recreation spaces along Azalea and Gashes Creek roads, including Recreation Park, later in May. The city has said previously it expects the "catastrophic damage" at the park, including the pool, may be largely covered by federal funds. Opened in 2023, the outdoor pool at Grant Southside Center off Depot Street features a toddler play zone, lounge deck, picnic tables, restrooms and changing rooms. The pool was built after the city closed the 1947 segregation-era Walton Street Pool in 2021, a beloved community fixture in Southside that faced costly mechanical and structural problems. Admission is $3 per person per day. For the 2025 season, regular pool hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Monday through Friday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday; and 12-7 p.m. on Sunday, though hours may vary due to weather or special events. Dates are May 24-Sept. 1 (weekends only before June 7 and after August 17) Swim Club Management Group manages all city pools and the splash pad and will oversee maintenance, hiring staff and daily operations. Learn more at The county has five outdoor community pools: Cane Creek, Hominy Valley, North Buncombe, Erwin and Owen. Admission is $4 per person per day. Pools will be open seven days a week from June 10 to Aug. 10. From May 24 to June 10, pools will be closed on weekdays while school is in session, except for Memorial Day, May 26, when all pool will be open. General pool hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday; 1-6 p.m. on Sunday; and 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. Extended hours are offered at Cane Creek, Erwin and Hominy Valley on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Learn more at In 2024, the Southside United Neighborhood Association organized a steering committee and partnered with the city to collaborate on a community driven engagement process focused on revisioning the historic pool area through adaptive reuse. The timeline was impacted by Helene, but the committee has since restarted the process. An online survey seeking input is open through May 31 at Walton Street Park and pool was designated a local historic landmark in 2022 and added to the National Register of Historic Places. After Malvern Hills Park pool's closure, neighbors rallied around the 90-year-old pool, advocating for it to be funded as part of the $20 million parks and recreation bond referendum, which passed in November. A new aquatics facility was identified as a priority in the Recreate Asheville 10-year Plan. In an April presentation from interim Assistant City Manager Jade Dundas, the pool's design and construction was listed among GO Bond projects at $325,000 and $2.5 million, respectively. The city posted a Request for Qualifications seeking firms to help design the new pool in February. Parks and Recreation spokesperson Christo Bubenik said May 12 that the city's approval of a design contract is scheduled for May 27. Other bond-funded parks and recreation improvements could include the architectural conservation and repurposing of Walton Street Park's bathhouse and pool. Asheville Parks and Recreation will host water events throughout the summer, including river snorkeling, toddler programs, water aerobics and splash days at various city parks. The city also operates a free public splash pad in Pack Square Park daily. Find more information here: More: Asheville considers property tax increase amid $10M funding gap; What about pay raises? More: Asheville seeks design team to help rebuild Helene-damaged French Broad riverfront parks Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@ or message on Twitter at @slho This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Where can you swim on Memorial Day? Here are Asheville and Buncombe pool openings.
