Asheville Receives $6.9 Million in Federal and State Funds for Helene Recovery

Asheville, North Carolina, is set to receive $6.9 million in combined federal and state funding to support ongoing recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Helene. The majority of the funds, over $5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will be allocated to rebuilding a critical component of the North Fork Water Treatment Plant’s auxiliary spillway – a fusegate that was dislodged during the storm.

Fusegate Repair Prioritized for Water System Resilience

The fusegate, part of the North Fork Dam Improvement Project completed in 2021, plays a vital role in protecting Asheville from catastrophic flooding. During Helene, the spillway and fusegate functioned as designed, safeguarding the treatment plant’s earthen dam, preserving 80 percent of the city’s drinking water supply, and preventing significant loss of life and property. Repairing the tipped fusegate is crucial to restoring the system to its pre-storm capacity.

“The auxiliary spillway at North Fork is perhaps the single most important project in our water system’s history,” said Interim Water Resources Director Bill Hart. “This funding is critical to replacing the spillway’s tipped fusegate, and I’m grateful to Sen. Budd, our entire congressional delegation and our partners at FEMA for prioritizing resilient infrastructure.”

Funding Breakdown and Infrastructure Improvements

In addition to the fusegate repair, the $6.9 million in funding will address other infrastructure damage caused by Helene. The city has allocated funds for the following:

• Damaged guardrail repairs: $158,419.09
• Temporary bridge at Hardesty Lane: $256,057.39
• Repairs to city parks (Aston Park Tennis, Kenilworth Park, Montford Ballfield, Weave Park, Roger Farmer Park, Eagle St., Malvern Hills Park): $909,177.89

State and Federal Collaboration

The funding includes $5 million from FEMA and an additional $500,000 from the state. Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer expressed gratitude for the support, particularly acknowledging the role of North Carolina Senator Ted Budd in securing the release of these essential funds despite a government shutdown. “These federal dollars are crucial to rebuilding vital infrastructure like our water system,” Manheimer stated. “This continued government support by both FEMA and the state allows us to move forward with our efforts to rebuild and serve the people of Asheville with consistency and resilience.”

Broader North Carolina Recovery Efforts

This funding for Asheville is part of a larger recovery effort across North Carolina. As of December 2025, FEMA has provided over $1 billion in Public Assistance grants to Western North Carolina communities impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. More than $2 billion in FEMA funding has been allocated to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mission assignments supporting statewide recovery.