FEMA Obligates $29 Million for Helene Recovery in Buncombe County
On December 5, 2025 Senator Ted Budd's office announced that FEMA had obligated roughly $29 million in public assistance for Tropical Storm Helene recovery across Western North Carolina, including significant funding for Asheville. The obligations include a $7,767,510.82 award for permanent repairs at the Asheville Municipal Golf Course and smaller sums for emergency support, Bee Tree Dam repairs, and roadway restoration, all of which affect local infrastructure and community services.
On December 5, 2025 federal recovery officials committed another tranche of public assistance funds tied to Tropical Storm Helene, a move that directly touches Buncombe County residents and municipal services. The announcement lists obligations totaling roughly $29 million for projects across Western North Carolina, with the largest single allocation for local repair work going to the City of Asheville.
The City of Asheville was allocated $7,767,510.82 for permanent repairs to the Asheville Municipal Golf Course, the Donald Ross course that serves both recreational players and local tourism. That investment seeks to restore a public amenity that contributes to city revenue, outdoor recreation, and events programming. Additional obligations in Buncombe County and neighboring jurisdictions cover emergency support activities, targeted repairs at Bee Tree Dam, and roadway repairs that will address storm damage and improve travel safety.
These obligations are part of the federal Public Assistance program and reference the dates tied to the original storm event. For local governments and contractors, obligation means FEMA has committed funding to specific projects so that planning, design, and construction work can move forward under federally approved scopes. For residents this step matters because it enables repairs to infrastructure they rely on daily, including roads for commuting and delivery, water management systems that protect neighborhoods from flooding, and public spaces that support local economies.
The action follows FEMA's continued disbursement of recovery funds for Helene, and it signals an ongoing partnership among federal, state, and local authorities in the recovery process. In practical terms Buncombe County officials will coordinate project timelines and contracting, while residents can expect staged repairs and construction activity in affected locations. Restoring the golf course, repairing the dam, and fixing roadways will all contribute to community resilience, help local businesses recover, and reduce the long term impacts of the storm on daily life.
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