Disaster Recovery

• The new Division of Community Revitalization within our agency will administer a $1.4 billion federal grant designed to address unmet hurricane recovery needs in Western North Carolina, with a particular focus on housing.
• The federal grant comes from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency (HUD), through its Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery program (CDBG-DR).
• The application process for this program has not yet started and no funds are yet in hand from the federal government.
• We conducted a 30-day comment period where we invited people to offer input on the proposed Action Plan for how these funds will be used.  
• The final Action Plan was submitted to HUD and is undergoing HUD's 45-day approval process, after which our state team will take the next steps toward opening the program for applications and active rebuilding work.
• The Action Plan, following required guidelines from HUD, can address three broad areas of recovery: housing, infrastructure, and economic vitality.
• This western North Carolina CDBG-DR grant has no connection with previous CDBG-DR grants managed by the North Carolina Office of Recovery & Resiliency (NCORR)

Action Plan

• Final HUD CDBG-DR Action Plan for Hurricane Helene
• Proposed HUD CDBG-DR Action Plan for Hurricane Helene
• Proposed HUD CDBG-DR Action Plan for Hurricane Helene - Spanish

Citizen Participation Plan

The Citizen Participation Plan is related to the use of U.S. HUD CDBG-DR funding in response to Hurricane Helene.

• Citizen Participation Plan

Public Notice: Early Floodplain/Wetland

The North Carolina Department of Commerce (NCDOC), Division of Community Revitalization (DCR) is proposing to implement housing recovery programs including Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Owner-Occupied Housing, and Multifamily Construction and Repair (the Programs) to assist homeowners and rental unit owners and tenants that have been and continue to be affected by Tropical Storm Helene. DCR, as the Responsible Entity under 24 CFR Part 58, has determined that proposed activities may be located in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain or wetland and, therefore, is performing an 8-Step Decision-Making Process to identify and evaluate practicable alternatives and potential impacts on the floodplain or wetland in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C. Consistent with the associated procedural requirements, an Early Notice for Proposed Activities in a FFRMS Designated Floodplain or Wetland for the proposed housing recovery activities was prepared. The purpose of this notice is to educate interested individuals about the project and potential impacts on the floodplain / wetland, inform individuals who may be put at greater or continued risk as a result of the project and, provide individuals who may be affected, as well as those interested in protecting the natural environment, the opportunity to express concerns and provide information about these areas.

As of April 3, 2025, the notice was published here, on the North Carolina Department of Commerce website for access by the public, and distributed electronically to Federal, State, and local agencies, organizations, and individuals who may be interested in the proposed action. All comments received April 18, 2025, and submitted as directed in the notice, will be taken into consideration.

• Early Notice and Public Review of Proposed Activities in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Designated Floodplain or Wetland

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designated 39 counties in North Carolina eligible for Hurricane Helene disaster recovery funds. To aid counties in applying for FEMA and other relief programs, the Labor and Economic Analysis Division (LEAD) has prepared economic and labor market data reflecting conditions prior to the storm, available here:

Labor Market Data for Helene-Impacted Counties

The file includes the following county-level information:

• Labor force statistics, including the number of employed individuals, the size of the labor force, and the unemployment rate
• Private business establishments’ jobs and average weekly wages in current dollars, both at the total, all industries level and the industry sector level
• Private business establishment counts, both as a whole and by employee size groups
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in current dollars
• Commuting patterns
• Demographics by sex, race, ethnicity, age, and educational attainment
• Housing data, including counts of owner- and renter-occupied units and median housing costs in current dollars
• Tourism and total taxable retail sales amounts in current dollars

For additional inquiries or assistance, please send an e-mail to lead@commerce.nc.gov.

Other Supporting Documents

• Report | Damage and Needs Assessment, Hurricane Helene Recovery (N.C. OSBM, December 13, 2024)

Presentations

• Presentation | N.C. Proposed HUD Action Plan (CDBG-DR) Overview - February 2025 Public Hearings
• Presentation | GROW NC • NCGA House Select Committee, January 29, 2025

Federally Declared Disaster Counties:

Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey counties as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina

A special unemployment insurance benefits program known as Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) supports residents that experience a disruption in employment due to a federally declared disaster.

• Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits were available to people in the 39 counties (as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) impacted by Hurricane Helene.
  • The deadline to apply has passed and no further claims for DUA can be accepted.
  • Counties eligible to receive DUA benefits include: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin and Yancey counties, plus the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
• Residents with questions about DUA unemployment assistance can check online at des.nc.gov or by calling the DUA Hotline.
  • English – 919-629-3857
  • Spanish – 919-276-5698

NCWorks Career Centers are Open to Help Residents in Impacted Counties

• NCWorks Career Centers provide free services to help connect NC jobseekers with employers and are open for people that need internet or computer access to apply for DUA.
• Evacuated residents can visit NCWorks online at NCWorks.gov to find an open Career Center nearby.
• Updates on weather-related closings are available at nc.works/closings.
• Residents can call the NCWorks Career Center system at 1-855-NCWorks (855-629-6757).
• All 30 Career Centers or access points in the three most severely affected Prosperity Zones are open:
  1. Anson County: 514 N. Washington St, Lockhart-Taylor Center, Wadesboro, NC
  2. Ashe County: 626 Ashe Central School Road Unit 5, Jefferson, NC
  3. Avery County: Mayland Community College, 785 Cranberry Street, Newland, NC
  4. Buncombe County: 53 Asheland Avenue, Suite 105, Asheville, NC
  5. Burke County: 720 East Union Street, Morganton, NC
  6. Cabarrus County: 845 Church Street North, Suite 201, Concord, NC
  7. Caldwell County: 1909 Hickory Blvd SE, Lenoir, NC
  8. Catawba County: 403 Conover Station, SE, Suite C, Conover, NC
  9. Cleveland County: 404 E. Marion Street, Shelby, NC
  10. Gaston County: 1391 Bessemer City Road, Gastonia, NC
  11. Haywood County: 1170 North Main Street, Waynesville, NC
  12. Henderson County: Blue Ridge Community College-Sink Bldg., 130 Eagles Reach Dr., Flat Rock, NC
  13. Iredell County: 133 Island Ford Road, Statesville, NC
  14. Jackson County: 26 Ridgeway Street, Suite 2, Sylva, NC
  15. Lincoln County: 529 N. Aspen Street, Lincolnton, NC
  16. Macon County: 5 West Main Street, Franklin, NC
  17. Madison County: 4646 U.S. Highway 25-70, AB Tech - Madison Campus, Marshall, NC
  18. McDowell County: 316 Baldwin Avenue, Suite 1, Marion, NC
  19. Mecklenburg County: 8601 McAlpine Park Drive, Suite 110, Charlotte, NC
  20. Mitchell County: 200 Mayland Drive, Spruce Pine, NC
  21. Rowan County: 1904 South Main Street, Salisbury, NC
  22. Rutherford County: 223 Charlotte Road, Rutherfordton, NC
  23. Stanly County: 944 N. First Street, Albemarle, NC
  24. Swain County: 33 Fryemont St., Mariana Black Library, Bryson City, NC
  25. Transylvania County: 45 Oak Park Drive, Brevard, NC
  26. Tri-County (Cherokee, Graham, Clay): 800 US Hwy 64 West, Murphy, NC
  27. Union County: 1125 Skyway Drive, Monroe, NC
  28. Watauga County: 130 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone, NC
  29. Wilkes County: 1320 West D Street, Suite #2, North Wilkesboro, NC
  30. Yancey County: 1040 East US Hwy 19E, Suite L, Burnsville, NC
• Hours of operation vary by center, and some are not open every weekday. Find more information about locations at www.NCWorks.gov.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Programs

The United States Small Business Administration regularly offers low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters.  The SBA will issue press releases and fact sheets for particular incidents, and the Helene-related links to those opportunities are below.

SBA personnel are available at several physical locations known as Multi-Agency Resource Centers, or MARCs across the western part of the state.

SBA Declarations 20701 & 20702 | Hurricane Helene

• NC 20701 & 20702 Fact Sheet, Disaster Loans
• NC 20701 & 20702 Press release

Small Business Owners Can Apply for Disaster Assistance and Loans through SBA

• U.S. SBA Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to help business and homeowners recover from federally declared disasters.
• SBA announced both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans for businesses and residents of Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
• Small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are only eligible to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Cabarrus, Cherokee, Graham, Iredell, Surry, Union, and Yadkin.
• You can apply here: MySBA Loan Portal

The United States Department of Labor awarded North Carolina a Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant to provide jobs and training services in areas that were severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions requested this grant.

• To apply for the Hurricane Helene dislocated worker grant program, residents should contact their local NCWorks Career Center. Contact information is available at ncworks.gov.

VisitNC, North Carolina's tourism promotion unit, publishes regular travel advisories and updates on the many opportunities to visit western North Carolina destinations, many of which are open and back to welcoming visitors. 

• Request for Proposal (RFP) #Doc1359254856 for Residential Demolition, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Manufactured Housing Unit Replacement for Hurricane Helene-Impacted Counties
  • There will be a Pre-Proposal Conference held on April 24, 2025, at 10:00AM Eastern Time. More details can be found on page 8 of the RFP.

• Request for Proposal (RFP) #1498190011 for Implementation of CDBG-DR Action Plan for Hurricane Helene Recovery
  • Attachment D: Cost Form
  • Addendum 1: Pre-Offer Conference Link
  • Addendum 2: Questions and Answers

When hurricanes or other natural disasters strike, it's not unusual for our Rural Grants team at the Department of Commerce to administer disaster recovery programs to help distribute state-provided recovery funds.

Currently, there are no active recovery programs in this category.  We update this page when new programs are announced.

For more information on state-funded disaster recovery programs, contact:

Kenny Flowers, Assistant Secretary 
Rural Economic Development Division 
NC Department of Commerce 
kenny.flowers@commerce.nc.gov

Hurricane Helene

The United States Department of Labor awarded North Carolina a Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant to provide jobs and training services in areas that were severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions requested this grant.

• To apply for the Hurricane Helene dislocated worker grant program, residents should contact their local NCWorks Career Center. Contact information is available at ncworks.gov.

QVC Distribution Facility, December 2021 Fire

The U.S. Department of Labor awarded North Carolina a Dislocated Worker Grant to help workers who lost their jobs due to the tragic December 2021 fire at the QVC distribution facility in Rocky Mount. The North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions requested this grant.

To administer this grant, DWS is partnering with Turning Point Workforce Development Board (which serves Edgecombe, Nash, Halifax, Northampton and Wilson counties) and Rivers East Workforce Development Board (which serves Beaufort, Bertie, Hertford, Martin and Pitt counties).

Through the grant, eligible dislocated workers may receive:

• Career Services, to help them make informed decisions about reemployment and education, based on local and regional economic conditions;
• Training Services, including both On-the-Job Training (OJT) opportunities with area employers and classroom training at community colleges or other providers, to prepare for in-demand jobs; and
• Supportive Services, which can address barriers that may prevent individuals from participating in employment and training.  

Former QVC employees who are interested in receiving workforce services should contact their local NCWorks Career Center. Contact information can be found at www.ncworks.gov.