This blog was written in collaboration with North Carolina Program Manager Ridge Graham.

Fourteen months after Hurricane Helene devastated our region, residents, state agencies, local governments and community organizations are still working to provide recovery assistance to communities that need support rebuilding and restoring livelihoods after the storm. In early January, the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery reconvened to discuss the current status of programs designed to help those communities, improve preparedness and restore natural landscapes impacted by the storm.  

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein addressed the committee and audience, noting the gap in federal support so far. 

“After a major storm like this, the federal government has historically covered 40 to 50% of overall damages to help local areas recover,” he said. “North Carolina has only received 11%.”

The state Department of Environmental Quality also gave an update on the landslide early warning detection program and updated mapping of landslide prone areas in WNC. Other programs to help Helene survivors were recently extended another month until the end of January 2026 due to the holiday season.

RenewNC Housing programs extended until Jan. 31, 2026

With funding from the federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program, initiatives were set up to provide several long-term recovery efforts. For housing, RenewNC has programs for repairing, rehabilitating or replacing both single-family and certain multi-family homes. 

For eligible homes impacted by the storm, the program can reimburse homeowners for completed repairs, provide direct repair assistance, rebuild homes using stick-built construction, or replace manufactured homes. This funding is available to 29 North Carolina counties impacted by Helene. To find out if you are eligible or to apply, next steps can be found here. RenewNC also has a helpline, an email and intake centers to process applications in Asheville, Boone and Marion. 

Stream repair damage funding for local governments and nonprofits

Funding is available to repair stream damage caused by Hurricane Helene through the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program. The program has $38 million in grant funding to be awarded over multiple rounds, organized by eligible county groupings. To ensure resources reach the hardest-hit areas, 70% of the funding is reserved for counties with the greatest need, with awards of up to $1.5 million per county. Applications are currently open for all WNC counties, but deadlines vary, with some applications due in February and others in March. More information can be found on the N.C. Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services website.

Eligible applicants include:

• Soil and water conservation districts
• Local governments and political subdivisions of cities and counties like water, sewer and sanitary districts
• Nonprofit organizations

Lowering energy costs and making your home more comfortable

Additionally, many of the rebate programs for energy efficiency that we promoted last year are still active. Energy Saver N.C. offers rebates for those who qualify that can be used to purchase and install energy-efficient upgrades for your home, such as heat pump water heaters and HVAC, or appliances for your kitchen or laundry. Another program offers energy-efficient upgrades to your home, such as insulation and air sealing.

Updates on Appalachian Voices’ Hurricane Helene resilience efforts

Appalachian Voices’ N.C. team is helping make sure the region’s recovery plans are informed by climate risks and include long-term preparedness and resilience goals, using several different approaches. Here are a few highlights:

North Carolina clean energy microgrid initiative

Appalachian Voices is proud to support the Footprint Project, Land of Sky Regional Council and N.C. Sustainable Energy Association in the implementation of a program that will provide microgrids — a small, local energy system that can generate and manage its own electricity — to first responder and resilience hub facilities in WNC. The program was launched in August 2025 and will continue through 2026. The microgrids financed under this program are solar and battery storage systems that can operate independently when the grid is down or generate cost savings when the grid is operational. The program is funded by the state and prioritizes Avery, Buncombe, Madison, Mitchell, Rutherford and Yancey counties for the first phase. 

The landmark investment will include approximately 24 fixed solar and battery storage microgrids and two mobile systems. Most of the systems will be roof-mounted, and eligible facilities need to meet certain criteria to be considered for the investment. For that reason, interested organizations must complete this intake survey to be considered for support. Time is running out to apply for the program, and we encourage any interested parties in the six counties to act quickly.

Resilience Hub Network summit

As part of Appalachian Voices’ work to strengthen community energy resilience, we are working to ensure that local organizations have access to the resources and tools they need to support their community members during both blue and stormy skies. We are excited to partner with Thrive Asheville, United Way of Buncombe County and the NC Council of Churches to offer a Resilience Hub Network Summit on February 27, 2026 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville. The convening will bring together resilience hub leaders and community partners to support network-building and shared learning around emergency preparedness. Learn more and RSVP to attend! 

Looking ahead and staying connected

App Voices will support and host multiple resilience and preparedness-focused events across the region throughout 2026, working with partners to create new resources and tools to help individuals and community leaders become better prepared for future challenges. Monitor the events page on our website for announcements, and sign up to receive our emails and newsletters. 

Upcoming workshops and programs to watch for:

• Creating preparedness plans and trainings for small communities and neighborhoods
• Becoming a Resilience Ambassador to help your neighbors be better informed
• Understanding updated flood, landslide and fire risk maps, and learning ways to reduce your risks