Two years ago, Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, taking more than 100 lives and causing an estimated $60 billion in damage. One of the top priorities at the NC Department of Environmental Quality has been helping communities recover and rebuild to make communities more resilient and safer when facing future disasters.
DEQ has awarded more than $1 billion in grants and loans in the past two years to repair or replace drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, repair or remove high-hazard dams, build flood resiliency projects in the French Broad River Basin, repair and expand recycling centers, remove tons of debris choking rivers and streams, and install solar and battery-powered microgrids that will provide power when electricity is out. Immediately after the storm, DEQ’s Marine Patrol Swift Water Rescue Team assisted with rescues and delivery of supplies and numerous divisions staffed the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center to help coordinate response activities. The Department also partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency’s mobile labs to test 1,558 private wells for bacteria and worked with EPA to bring more than 160 water systems back online.
“For the past two years, DEQ staff has worked side by side with Western North Carolina communities to rebuild in a way that will help them better withstand future disasters,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “While we have accomplished a lot, in many ways the work is just beginning. We will continue to stand by our fellow North Carolinians in the months and years ahead.”
On its Hurricane Helene Recovery website, DEQ tells the story of how the Department has worked with communities to rebuild infrastructure and better protect homes and businesses from flooding, while building in resiliency against future storms. Visitors can also find where DEQ funds have been awarded, opportunities that are still available for recovery, as well as guidance and other resources.
Some of the milestones DEQ has accomplished in partnership with nonprofits and Western North Carolina communities to rebuild with resilience include:
- As of July 2026, DEQ had awarded a total of $906 million in state and federal funds to repair and upgrade damaged drinking water, wastewater and septic systems. A key requirement was that each project must strengthen the resilience of the system to withstand more frequent and severe flooding. The Department awarded funds to projects in 28 counties and guided many communities through the funding process.
- DEQ awarded two grants, $10 million and $2 million, respectively, to remove stream debris and restore streambanks. As of September 2026, more than 1,320 tons of debris had been removed from streams in 16 counties.
- DEQ has funded repair and weatherization of 385 homes through its $10 million Home Repair Weatherization Readiness Program.
- The Flood Resiliency Blueprint has awarded more than $10 million to 19 projects in the French Broad River Basin for long-term flood resilience, including projects to create more floodwater storage, restore and reconnect floodplains, and relocate facilities and infrastructure out of harm’s way.
- DEQ awarded $25 million in grants to local governments to replace or improve recycling infrastructure damaged by the storm and to build resilient convenience centers and transfer stations.
- DEQ awarded $5 million to install permanent microgrids across six counties that will provide power in the wake of future weather disasters. Up to 24 stationary microgrids will be installed and two mobile microgrid hubs will serve the entire state.
- DEQ awarded two $1 million grants to convert downed trees into biochar to reduce wildfire risks and produce a byproduct that enriches agricultural land with essential nutrients.
- DEQ mapped 13,090 landslides, which will be used to create a landslide early warning system. The General Assembly allocated another $1 million to DEQ this year to continue mapping landslides that threaten critical infrastructure.
- DEQ awarded $10 million in state funding to address issues with nine high-hazard dams, the failure of which would risk life and property downstream. The General Assembly has allocated another $20 million for repairs at 12 dams.
Emergency Response After Helene
- The Division of Marine Fisheries’ deployed24 Marine Patrol Swift Water Rescue Team members and other Marine Patrol officers to western North Carolina for about a week to assist with Hurricane Helene safety efforts.
- Approximately 180 public drinking water systems were closed and some did not have power well into October 2024. Another 40 systems were on a boil water advisory for weeks. Staff provided technical assistance to water systems and coordinated with private, municipal, state and federal partners to provide aid and assist in bringing systems back online.
- In partnership with the EPA’s mobile labs, DEQ sampled bacteria from 1,558 private wells in Buncombe and Watauga counties.
- Approximately 100 wastewater plants were still closed in early October with significant damage, without power or partially operational. In some cases, collection systems that transport wastewater were also damaged, so minimal flow was reaching the plants. Staff provided technical assistance, including on-site help, to help bring the systems back online.
- DEQ’s dam safety program implemented an automated notification system called DamWatch to evaluate the risk of water flowing over the top of dams during the storm and alert emergency management of potential red flags before they escalated into catastrophic failures.
- Immediately after the storm, DEQ had boots on the ground inspecting all high-hazard dams in the affected areas. Hundreds of dams were damaged to some extent — most of the damage minor. Only one high-hazard dam breached: Lake Craig Dam, an in-line dam on the Swannanoa River. The term “high hazard” refers to the extent of potential downstream consequences of damage, not to the condition of a dam.
- Within hours of the storm ending, DEQ began tracking landslide damage. AS of September 2026, DEQ has mapped more than 13,000 landslides. Landslides tend to occur near previous landslides because of similar geologic and microclimate conditions. The mapping informs county planners, emergency services and the public where a landslide might occur under certain conditions and what direction it may move.
- DEQ partnered with the Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency to deploy 15 temporary air quality monitors and sensors. This data helped staff meteorologists forecast and track the air quality impacts of wildfires in March 2025 and issue Air Quality Action Day alerts. Outside of these wildfire events, DEQ did not observe a degradation in air quality.
- DEQ staff in the Asheville Regional Office began sampling for E. coli in streams in Buncombe County, helping to identify potential sources of contamination. Also, DEQ scientists sampled 11 streams in November and December to determine water quality.
- DEQ employees from multiple divisions helped staff the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center around the clock for multiple weeks to help western North Carolina prepare for the storm and coordinate response activities with emergency officials after the storm.
- DEQ partnered with state and federal organizations to coordinate debris cleanup activities and published guidance on debris removal for contractors, local governments and nonprofits.
- DEQ worked with EPA to locate and remove hazardous materials, including more than 959 propane tanks, from more than 1,100 target locations. Additionally, staff supported the removal of 2.24 tons of ignitable, corrosive and/or mercury-contaminated waste.
- DEQ activated 166 temporary debris staging and reduction sites to collect and manage storm debris, including approving 133 new sites.
- DEQ will allocate more than $61 million in federal funding from EPA to support hazardous waste cleanup, remove debris and repair recycling infrastructure.
- The Department’s Viable Utility Program conducted in-person outreach to towns in western North Carolina to determine ongoing water and wastewater needs. The team provided support including application assistance, staff training, project tracking, funding research and compliance coordination at towns including Bakersville, Black Mountain, Bryson City, Burnsville, Canton, Crossnore, Hot Springs, Lake Lure, Lansing, Marshall, Old Fort and others.
For more information on DEQ’s response and recovery to Hurricane Helene during the past two years, visit Hurricane Helene Recovery | NC DEQ.