Latest news with #Helene-impacted
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FEMA: Local counties awarded $2 million for Helene repairs
NORTHEAST TENNESSEE (WJHL) — 14 counties in East Tennessee have been awarded $2 million in state funds for Hurricane Helene repairs. According to a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the funds will go towards emergency and permanent work to repair bridges, restore utilities, remove debris and take measures to further protect Helene-impacted counties. Tennessee overhauls terms governing Ballad Health The following community projects will receive funds through FEMA's Public Assistance program: Carter County First Utility District – $4,966 for emergency protective measures Hawkins County Emergency Communications District – $4,632 for emergency protective measures Johnson County $624,640 for Morefield Bridge repairs $617,344 for Furnace Creek Bridge repairs $12,875 for Brownlow Utility District meter repairs Unicoi County Gas Utility District – $27,949 for emergency protective measures, $39,335 for restoring gas service to residential customers Sheriff's Office – $124,760 for emergency protective measures Washington County Johnson City Energy Authority – $227,806 for emergency protective measures Emergency Communications District – $6,041 for emergency protective measures Sevier County $34,524 for City of Pigeon Forge $11,154 for Sevier County Utility District $196,489 for the county government , all for emergency protective measures 'The Public Assistance program reimburses communities for emergency work to save lives and protect property; remove debris; and repair roads, bridges, public buildings, utilities and parks,' FEMA said in a news release. 'Because this is a cost-sharing program, FEMA reimburses state applicants 75% of eligible costs. The remaining 25% represents nonfederal funds.' FEMA's share for this project is $83,731, and the nonfederal share is $27,910. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
No injuries or damage to structures as SC wildfires expand past 10,000 acres
Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County near the North Carolina border can be seen on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Wildfires in the Upstate have grown exponentially over the past week, forcing mandatory evacuations as weather conditions and debris from Hurricane Helene impede efforts to stop the flames spreading. No structures have been damaged, and no injuries or deaths have been reported, officials said during a Friday media briefing, one week after the first of the two fires started. Together, the fires in Greenville and Pickens counties had burned more than 10,600 total acres as of Friday morning, officials said. Both fires, which officials said were manmade, remained 0% contained. A statewide burn ban remains in effect. Four teenage hikers have been questioned by police about the Table Rock fire, and 'charges are pending,' according to the Pickens County Sheriff's Office. For more information Call (864) 467-3428 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. for more information on evacuations and shelters. Source: SC Forestry Commission The fires prompted mandatory evacuations for people nearest the flames. About 1,400 homes were evacuated as of Thursday morning, according to Greenville County Emergency Management. A shelter set up at Marietta First Baptist Church had about 20 people staying there Friday morning, said Kim Stenson, director of the state Emergency Management Division. The fire is the largest mountain wildfire in state history, surpassing a 2016 fire in the same area that burned 10,000 acres. 'We've never had a fire quite like this,' Gov. Henry McMaster said. Downed trees and other debris knocked loose when Hurricane Helene hit the state as a tropical storm in September are complicating matters, said Scott Phillips, head of the state Forestry Commission. Firefighters are struggling to get equipment onto paths blocked by the storm. Some trees fell across established fire breaks, meaning crews have to saw through logs to keep the fire from spreading even further. Dried-out timber also created more fuel for the fire. While that hasn't been the primary concern yet, it could become a much bigger issue of the flames reach areas where timber cleared from roads still sits in stacks, Phillips said. The debris 'is going to change the way we have to attack fires in the mountains of South Carolina and in the Hurricane Helene-impacted areas,' Phillips said. High winds combined with recent dry conditions have made the fires particularly difficult to contain. Crews have been working to create perimeters cleared of debris that the fire can't cross, but the wind has carried embers from the Table Rock over barriers as wide as 40 feet, Phillips said. 'With these fires and the conditions we're facing in the state right now, the dryness of the fuel, the extreme low humidities, the high winds that we're having, containment is very, very difficult to achieve,' Phillips said. Embers ignited parts of Table Rock State Park earlier this week, Phillips said. Table Rock, Caesars Head and Jones Gap state parks remained closed Friday, according to the state parks department. State Law Enforcement Division and National Guard teams had dropped more than 700,000 gallons of water on the fire by Friday, agency directors said. Air tankers dropped thousands of gallons of fire retardant along the northern edge of the fires Thursday, according to the Forestry Commission. Among them was a very large air tanker, which the commission used for the first time in the state. SLED has also been helping police monitor evacuated neighborhoods to prevent looting and keep roads clear of spectators who have been congregating, said SLED Chief Mark Keel. Much of the firefighters' focus has been on protecting nearby structures, officials said. One way of doing that is through burnout operations, in which crews intentionally light fires they can closely monitor to reduce the fuel leading up to buildings, slowing the uncontrolled wildfire. The fires are visible from miles around, said House Majority Leader Davey Hiott, who lives about 7 miles from the blaze in Pickens. His home isn't within the current evacuation zone, but he can see the glow of the fire on the side of the mountain from his front porch, he said. Upstate SC wildfires burn upwards of 2,000 acres 'There's smoke everywhere,' Hiott said. The high winds died down slightly Friday, helping matters somewhat, officials said. The National Weather Service is predicting rain Sunday and Monday, which could help firefighters control the blaze. 'Pray for the men and women out here, and pray for rain,' Hiott said. A fire near Myrtle Beach that ignited last month continues to burn. At about 2,000 acres, that fire is about 85% contained and has damaged no structures or killed any people, Phillips said. This month, the Forestry Commission has responded to more than 370 fires that burned more than 18,000 acres total, Phillips said. That's 'orders of magnitude' more than the commission usually sees in a month, and more than it has seen in some years, he said. April is typically the busiest month for forest fires, Phillips said. 'This is going to be a long season for us as we move forward,' he said. Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire envelops Saluda Hill Baptist Church in Cleveland, S.C., on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from a wildfire obscures Table Rock in northern Pickens County on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County obscures the sun on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire fills the skies in northern Pickens County near sundown on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Sun shines through smoke from the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County near the North Carolina border can be seen on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Pickens County Sheriff's deputies block traffic on S.C. Highway 11, also known as Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, due to the Table Rock wildfire on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire envelops the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (S.C. Highway 11) in northern Pickens County on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Table Rock in northern Pickens County is obscured by smoke from a wildfire on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County near the North Carolina border can be seen on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) A sign alerts traffic to a road closure due to the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Sun shines through smoke from the Table Rock wildfire along a river near S.C. Highway 11 on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Table Rock in northern Pickens County is obscured by smoke from a wildfire on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) A sign alerts traffic to a road closure due to the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NC lawmakers brainstorm more Helene recovery ideas, funding
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – A $500 million relief bill dedicated to helping western North Carolina is heading to the state Senate next week after being passed by the House. 'We need it, we just need it, federal money is not flowing as much as we want, state money is not coming as fast as anybody would want,' Senator Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) said. But already, lawmakers say it's not enough. 'I don't think there's any question we'll have to fund more, the question is going to be at what point in time, and then obviously the details of how much and where,' Senator Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said. PREVIOUS: Another $500M for Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina passes key hurdle This week, senators filed a bill to allocate $150 million specifically for housing needs in hurricane-impacted areas. That bill is already in a Senate committee. Secretary of the Department of Transportation Joey Hopkins says they also need cash flow to repair roads that were demolished. 'Our biggest challenge overall is the entire scale or scope of this storm,' Hopkins said in a House Oversight Committee meeting. He says they haven't seen damage like this since Hurricane Florence back in 2018. That cost the DOT about $250 million in damages. RELATED: Bill filed in NC Senate seeks $150 million for housing efforts in Helene-impacted areas 'This storm, we're projected to spend nearly $5 billion to repair the public transportation infrastructure,' Hopkins said. For that, though, state lawmakers are also hoping for help from the federal government. 'The governor and I did send a letter to the US DOT and others this past Monday requesting them to fully fund our repairs,' Hopkins said. Senator Berger says the $500 million relief bill is being fast tracked through the Senate. It will be in committee next week and then potentially on the floor the following week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Duke Energy Foundation announces $500,000 in grants to boost storm preparedness across NC
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — As businesses and homes in western NC are still recovering from last year's devastating hurricane, Duke Energy is finding more ways to help people prepare for the next damaging storm. The Duke Energy Foundation announced Thursday that it's dedicating $500,000 in grants to support storm preparedness and natural disaster response. Organizations across North Carolina can apply for the grants, which are awarded in increments up to $25,000, between now and April 25. 'The impact of Hurricane Helene last fall showed us the importance of strong collaboration between emergency management agencies, first responders and nonprofit organizations when it comes to natural disasters,' said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy North Carolina state president. 'We're proud to support storm preparedness efforts in the communities we serve as they continue to grow and see new opportunities to bolster resilience to severe weather events.' HELENE RECOVERY: Bill filed in NC Senate seeks $150 million for housing efforts in Helene-impacted areas Here are the types of programs and initiatives the Duke Energy Foundation is looking for: Collaborative programming across agencies, organizations and communities for disaster preparedness and response Initiatives for local communities to prepare for natural disasters or extreme weather Training, developing materials, kits and other community engagement and education initiatives to localize storm preparedness First responder training specifically for natural disaster scenarios HELENE RECOVERY: Part of I-40 in western NC to open by March This is not a new thing for the Duke Energy Foundation, as they have awarded nearly $5.6 million to storm preparedness since 2020, including funding for the City of Wimington to install new flood gauges, funding for the City of Raleigh to distribute weather radios to vulnerable neighborhoods and funding for a drone program in Person County for public safety measures during natural and manmade disasters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill filed in NC Senate seeks $150 million for housing efforts in Helene-impacted areas
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Lawmakers filed a bill in the North Carolina Senate Wednesday that would send $150 million in funds to support rebuilding efforts in Hurricane Helene-impacted areas. Senate Bill 200, which was filed by state senators Warren Daniel (R-Burke), Tim Moffitt (R-Henderson), and Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe), proposes 'an act to appropriate additional funds to the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund' to assist with hurricane relief. PREVIOUS: Another $500M for Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina passes key hurdle The 'nonrecurring funds' would amount to $150 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year — all dedicated to housing support for portions of the state affected by Hurricane Helene, which left extreme devastation to western North Carolina in late September 2024. If passed through the General Assembly, this bill would go into effect on July 1. Earlier this week, the North Carolina House unanimously approved a measure that would spend another $500 million toward Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. If enacted, the bill would add to the funds the Republican-controlled General Assembly already voted in late 2024 to spend on disaster recovery activities following the historic flooding in the mountains. RELATED: NC Governor Stein requests $20 billion in Helene recovery funds But Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who took office in January, requested earlier this month that legislators approve more than double that amount — $1.07 billion. He says those funds can't wait until conventional state budget negotiations likely would wrap up early this summer and that struggling businesses, displaced residents and public school students need help now. GOP lawmakers agree more funds need to move fast to the region, but say they want to be careful about maximizing federal matching funds and avoiding mistakes after previous storms. They also agree with Stein that more Helene aid will be approved in the months ahead. — The Associated Press contributed to this report Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
