Congressman Chuck Edwards announced that $165.9 million in FEMA reimbursement funds will be distributed to support recovery efforts in North Carolina’s 11th District following Hurricane Helene and COVID-19 emergency measures.
The funding includes allocations for several projects: $1,135,211 for Henderson County Hospital Corporation to cover emergency protective measures at Pardee Hospital during the pandemic; $1,916,520 to Madison County for emergency response including shelters and infrastructure repairs after Hurricane Helene; $5,326,298 to Buncombe County for sewage system repairs and other protective actions; $1,239,259 to the Town of Old Fort for restoration of the Westerman Street Water Line; $20,358,749 to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for road and highway repairs in Buncombe, Mitchell, and Avery Counties; $4,607,775 to NCDOT for Pearson Falls Road repairs in Polk County; $13,275,253 to Mitchell County for debris removal; and $5,600,601 to Asheville for repairs at the North Fork Water Treatment Plant.
Congressman Edwards coordinated with other members of the North Carolina delegation and engaged White House officials, FEMA leadership, Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. He also met with Director Russ Vought at the Office of Management and Budget to advocate for prompt release of public assistance reimbursements.
Edwards stated: “When Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, our communities didn’t hesitate — they stepped up immediately to protect lives, clear debris, and restore essential services. But FEMA’s bureaucracy slowed parts of that recovery. I worked with federal and state leaders to cut through the red tape and make sure these reimbursement funds are delivered to the people back home who have already shouldered the cost.”
Chuck Edwards has served as U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 11th district since 2023 after replacing Madison Cawthorn. He previously served in both chambers of the North Carolina legislature from 2016 until his election to Congress. In recent elections he defeated Jasmine Beach-Ferrara in 2022 with 53.8% of the vote and Caleb Rudow in 2024 with 56.8%. Edwards was born in Waynesville in 1960 and currently resides in Flat Rock.
