Buncombe County Advances Flood Resilience, 428 Hazard Applications Filed

Buncombe County officials reported that, by December 5, 2025, more than 428 residents had taken steps to reduce long term risk to their properties through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, known as HMGP, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The program is designed to reduce or eliminate future damage and loss following disasters such as Tropical Storm Helene, and it offers mitigation choices that include home elevation, reconstruction, acquisition of properties, and slope stabilization.

Applications for HMGP are being processed in batches to manage workload and documentation requirements. Group 1 consisted of 23 properties that the North Carolina Emergency Management office submitted to FEMA on February 21, 2025. Those files are under FEMA review and are nearing completion, per FEMA. Group 2 included 26 properties submitted on June 4, 2025, and FEMA is working with the state to complete supporting documentation for that group. Group 3 encompassed 157 properties submitted on November 5, 2025, and FEMA is likewise working with the state on documentation for those applicants.

HMGP is not intended to cover immediate storm repairs after Helene. Preparing an application typically requires several months to assemble documentation, cost estimates, and benefit cost analysis before submission. FEMA review can take 12 to 24 months, with more complex proposals taking longer, and communities generally have three to four years to finish approved mitigation projects once funding is awarded. North Carolina Emergency Management closed intake for HMGP applications on October 31, 2025.

For Buncombe County homeowners, the program offers a pathway to reduce future losses but also requires patience and planning. Acquisition projects can remove vulnerable homes from flood prone areas while elevation and slope stabilization can protect remaining structures. Residents seeking the current status of an application or needing help navigating next steps can call the Helene Resource Center at 828 250 6100 or visit 94 Coxe Avenue in Asheville Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. County officials advise keeping records of submitted documents and staying in contact with the resource center as applications move through review.