Ted Budd, Republican Senator for North Carolina, said federal authorities approved $44.6 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding, along with additional public assistance, to support rebuilding and infrastructure projects in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.
“Ever since Hurricane Helene devastated the lives of more than half a million North Carolinians, I have been working non-stop to obtain approval for federal relief necessary to rebuild Western North Carolina,” said Budd. “In recent months, I’ve engaged extensively with DHSgov and FEMA regarding applications under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. I am glad that today, in addition to another tranche of public assistance funding totaling over $72 million, Sec Noem has approved $44.6 million in grants for projects under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. As I have with the public assistance program, I pledge that I will continue to work closely with all federal, state, and local leaders to continue to identify projects that qualify for federal reimbursement, and I will be in constant contact with FEMA to get these dollars to Western North Carolina communities.”
Budd posted a statement on X stating that he has been actively engaging with federal agencies to secure aid for communities affected by the disaster in Western North Carolina. The announcement highlights the release of over $72 million in public assistance and $44.6 million for hazard mitigation initiatives. Budd reiterated his commitment to working across government levels to ensure further reimbursements.
Hurricane Helene inflicted severe damage across North Carolina, with recovery needs estimated at $59.6 billion, making it the most costly disaster in the state’s history. The storm resulted in 108 fatalities, marking it as the deadliest in modern North Carolina history. It also caused widespread flooding that destroyed homes and infrastructure in western counties and damaged over 800,000 acres of timberland.
The hurricane ranks among the deadliest storms to hit the United States in recent decades, causing at least 250 fatalities nationwide and economic losses exceeding $160 billion. It led to massive power outages affecting over 4.5 million people across multiple southeastern states and triggered catastrophic flooding and landslides.
Budd was born in 1971 in Davie County, North Carolina. He grew up on a family farm before earning business degrees from Appalachian State University and Wake Forest University. Before entering politics, he founded a retail gun store. Budd served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives for North Carolina’s 13th district before winning election to the U.S. Senate in 2022.
