DHS Announces $116 Million in Federal Aid for North Carolina Recovery After Tropical Storm Helene

FEMA Public Assistance (PA) and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) are different kinds of disaster grants:

• Public Assistance grants: Pay to clean up after the storm and fix what was damaged. They fund debris removal, emergency work, and repair or replacement of public infrastructure (roads, bridges, utilities, public buildings, some nonprofits). They can include some extra mitigation work, but only tied to the damaged facility being repaired.
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program: Pays for longer‑term projects that reduce future risk, whether or not a specific building was just damaged. Examples include buying out repeatedly flooded homes, elevating houses, strengthening buildings, drainage improvements, or updating codes.

In short: PA = response and rebuilding what was damaged; HMGP = projects to prevent or reduce damage in future disasters.

When FEMA says money is “obligated” to a state or community, it means FEMA has formally committed that amount for a specific project in its financial system and set it aside from the Disaster Relief Fund. The funds are then available for the state (the grant “recipient”) to draw down and pass on to local governments or other subrecipients as eligible work is done and costs are documented. Obligated funds are committed but not necessarily spent yet.

The “final Congressional notification process” refers to FEMA’s legal requirement to notify Congress before it obligates large project awards (typically any single obligation with a federal share of $1 million or more). FEMA must send notice to specified congressional committees and wait a short period (usually 72 hours) before it can formally obligate the grant. Only after that waiting period can FEMA complete the award.

How long it takes: For an individual project, the notification itself is on the order of days (around 72 hours), but the total time from FEMA’s internal approval to visible obligation can be somewhat longer because of internal reviews and batching of notifications. Public guidance does not provide a precise average timeline beyond the statutory 72‑hour notice window.

Yes, almost all of these FEMA grants require non‑federal “matching” funds:

• Public Assistance (PA): By law, FEMA usually pays 75% of eligible project costs, and the remaining 25% must come from non‑federal sources (state, local, tribal, or other eligible match). Sometimes the federal share can be raised, but a non‑federal share is still typical.
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP): The standard cost share is also 75% federal / 25% non‑federal. The 25% can be paid by state or local government, the property owner, or other allowed non‑federal contributions (cash or certain in‑kind contributions).

So local governments and/or property owners usually must provide part of the cost, unless special waivers or higher federal cost‑share percentages are approved.

Hazard mitigation projects like buyouts and home elevations follow fairly standard steps:

Property acquisition (buyouts)

1. A local government applies to the state using FEMA mitigation funds (such as HMGP) for a voluntary buyout project.
2. If funded, the local government offers to purchase eligible flood‑prone properties (usually at pre‑disaster fair market value); homeowners choose whether to participate.
3. Once purchased, buildings are demolished or moved, and FEMA requires a permanent deed restriction so the land must remain open space forever (e.g., park, green space, floodplain); it cannot be redeveloped with new structures.

Home elevation

1. The local government includes specific homes in a mitigation grant application (often after a disaster).
2. If approved, contractors physically raise the house so that its lowest floor is above expected flood levels, following FEMA and local code standards.
3. Owners typically must move out temporarily during construction; after elevation, the home can be reoccupied but is better protected from future floods.

The $549 million FEMA has paid to survivors refers to Individual Assistance grants, which go directly to people and households, not to governments. Individuals can:

• Check if they are eligible and apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Apply via the FEMA app or by calling FEMA’s helpline at 1‑800‑621‑3362 (TTY 1‑800‑462‑7585).
• Visit a local Disaster Recovery Center (listed on DisasterAssistance.gov) for in‑person help.

Those sites and contacts provide application forms, deadlines, and status updates for Individual Assistance grants.