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Was your Buncombe home damaged by Tropical Storm Fred? The state wants to help you ASAP.

Andrew Jones, Asheville Citizen Times
·3 min read

ASHEVILLE - Just more than a year after Tropical Storm Fred wreaked havoc on Western North Carolina, killing six people and leaving damaged homes and infrastructure in its wake, the state of North Carolina still has resources to repair homes and roads.

Office of State Budget and Management Disaster Recovery Director Richard Trumper and Senior Project Manager Dana Phillips told Buncombe County Board of Commissioners during its Sept. 20 meeting they have more resources for families whose homes were damaged during the storm.

“We are worried that people are living in unsafe housing,” Trumper said. “We’re worried folks haven’t said they need help and thought someone else was in a worse position than they were. They didn’t think there would be enough money to help them. Now is the time for those families to reach out to us.”

More:After the storm: Families impacted by Tropical Depression Fred reflect on life post-flood

Few RV's were left standing at Laurel Bank Campground after the Pigeon River violently overflowed during Tropical Storm Fred.
Few RV's were left standing at Laurel Bank Campground after the Pigeon River violently overflowed during Tropical Storm Fred.

He emphasized home damage the ongoing state recovery program can help with wasn’t exclusive to flooding.

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People whose homes were damaged by elements like falling trees or rain can also get assistance.

Trumper said especially as winter approaches, they want to get homes repaired where needed.

“If you don’t feel safe in your house we want to talk to (you),” he said.

According to Trumper and Phillips’ presentation, the state, through Sept. 9, has completed 36 projects representing 201 families in Buncombe where there have been 82 total eligible applications for recovery work.

The storm significantly impacted Haywood, Yancey Buncombe,Transylvania and McDowell counties in late August 2021, and the state since received 710 applications from people who lived there.

According to Phillips and Trumper, 619 of those applications were eligible for assistance.

“Is there a focus more for the bridges? Is that the area you’re looking for in Buncombe,” Commissioner Terri Wells asked?

“Roads and bridges absolutely,” Trumper said, but emphasized the need to address households, as well.

Those who think their properties may qualify for assistance can contact the state’s Fred recovery team a number of ways, including:

  • Email: TSFred@nc.gov

  • Online application: TSFred.nc.gov 

  • By phone, toll free: 844-935-1744

  • At the team’s Waynesville office: 828-526-6170

The state’s Office of State Budget and Management thus far has either spent or obligated $23.8 million on Fred recovery of the total $49 million it has to spend. It has completed about 43% of the necessary recovery work thus far. Fred impacted a total of roughly 1,500 WNC families, according to Trumper and Phillips.

Buncombe, they said, has or will receive roughly $3.1 million for recovery.

More:WNC farmers struggle to stay afloat amid unpredictable rainfall, long recovery process

The Budget and Management office isn’t the only N.C. department sending recovery money to Buncombe.

Buncombe County Agriculture and Land Resources announced in July it will use approximately $3 million in flood recovery money for river debris cleanup and bank improvement.

That money comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture grant and a matching grant from the N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation and will go toward 44 separate projects focused on removing debris from waterways and stabilizing stream banks.

Though Buncombe saw heavy impact from Fred's onslaught, Haywood was perhaps the worst-hit county.

As the Citizen Times previously reported, roughly 14 inches of rain fell there as Fred passed through Western North Carolina Aug. 16-17. According to Allison Richmond, spokesperson for the county’s emergency services department, more than 450 homes and businesses were damaged and six people died. 

Andrew Jones is an investigative reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at @arjonesreports on Facebook and Twitter, 828-226-6203 or arjones@citizentimes.com. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Got Tropical Storm Fred home damage? This NC office still has funding