FEMA approved Rutherford County buyouts. What’s holding up NC Emergency Management?

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Cops and Congress, a Rutherford County-based Substack written by Annie Dance. Check it out here.

Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene hit western NC on Sept. 27, 2024, Rutherford County homeowners finally have federal approval for voluntary property acquisitions. But approval does not mean a check is on the way.

As flooding from the Broad River returned to the Chimney Rock and Lake Lure area on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, it forced the closure of a temporary road to Bat Cave and prompted additional water releases from Lake Lure Dam. The urgency of completing long-term recovery projects became clear once again, along with questions about what officials said, compared to what the National Weather Service said.

Last week, the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce shared state recovery figures showing that, as of July, Rutherford County was still awaiting its first FEMA-approved acquisitions. That has changed.

According to a review of North Carolina Emergency Management’s website on Sept. 23, FEMA approved Rutherford County’s 36-property acquisition project as of Sept. 15. The project is now listed as “Contracting.”

So, what’s the holdup at NCEM?

FEMA has approved the project and obligated funding, meaning the state can obtain federal reimbursement for eligible work. But before homeowners receive purchase offers, NCEM must secure a contract with a vendor to administer the acquisitions. Once that contract is in place, homeowners can attend kickoff meetings, receive information about project timelines, and begin the property survey and appraisal process. Purchase offers and real estate closings follow.

The state’s published tracker does not identify the contractor for Rutherford County, provide a contracting completion date, or establish when homeowners will receive their first offers. It also does not explain whether any outstanding procurement requirements, staffing limitations, or other administrative issues are delaying the projects.

For homeowners who have already waited nearly two years, the absence of a published timeline is a significant concern.

Rutherford County’s FEMA reimbursement delays with public assistance

I reported that Rutherford County Deputy County Manager and Finance Director Paula Roach told commissioners the county had approximately $35 million tied up in Helene-related expenses while awaiting FEMA reimbursement.

The county subsequently obtained $4.6 million in state cash-flow loans. Roach also estimated that reimbursement delays had cost approximately $1.6 million in lost interest income. Those expenses involve broader disaster recovery operations, not the homeowner acquisition program.

However, the distinction between federal approval and actual payment is important in both cases. For HMGP acquisitions, FEMA obligates funding, but state or local funds are used to complete approved work before federal reimbursement is obtained. NCEM’s guidance also allows the state to manage acquisitions directly, including upfront expenses.

So the question is not simply whether FEMA has released the money. It is whether NCEM has the necessary contracts, funding arrangements, and administrative capacity in place to turn federal approval into completed property purchases.

State officials say they are working to eliminate delays

NCEM Director Will Ray addressed the acquisition process in March when Buncombe County held a kickoff meeting for owners of 47 FEMA-approved properties. “Our team has been prepared for over a year to move forward expeditiously, with a focus on removing unnecessary delays to benefit each property owner,” Ray said.

Buncombe County’s published recovery timeline estimates that project setup and appraisals can take several months after federal approval. The process includes contractor selection, homeowner meetings, property appraisals, and purchase decisions. Those requirements serve legitimate purposes, including establishing property values and ensuring public funds are spent appropriately. But they do not eliminate the need for clear communication with participating homeowners.

The questions are piling up like debris

Survivors have told me they are waiting for emails and updates about their applications. They want to know when their properties will be appraised, when they can expect an offer, and who is responsible for keeping them informed. Now that FEMA has approved Rutherford County’s project, NCEM should be able to explain what happens next. Has a contractor been selected? If not, when will that happen? Has the state secured the necessary upfront funding? Who is responsible for contacting homeowners, and when will kickoff meetings begin?

Those questions deserve specific answers from the agencies administering the program. Ray, who has served under the Roy Cooper and Josh Stein administrations, reportedly did not appoint a Hurricane Helene coordinator to directly serve as a liaison with FEMA.

Meanwhile, Wednesday’s flooding is another reminder that Helene recovery is taking place while western North Carolina remains exposed to new storms. Temporary roads are still vulnerable. Lake Lure continues managing water levels at its dam, releasing water downstream. That policy decision impacts thousands of property owners — people who do not pay town taxes.

Throughout the region of western North Carolina, taxpayers and homeowners who applied to leave flood-prone properties are still waiting to learn when they can move forward. Federal approval is progress. NCEM’s contracting and property acquisition requirements are necessary parts of the process.

But the public deserves to know what is happening between federal approval and the day a homeowner finally receives payment. Apparently, North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) officials would prefer you look at wildflowers rather than factual flooding news.

As the floodwaters rise again, the questions aren’t just remaining. To me, they’re piling up like debris.

Parting thought: FEMA approved $197 million to be released after a fraud review, as I previously reported.