North Carolina
Hurricane-hit battleground states face additional voting hurdles in run-up to Election Day
Voters in storm-ravaged parts of the Southeast could face new hurdles at the ballot box this year following the destruction wrought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, back-to-back disasters that have sparked a flurry of new outreach from states, parties, and even campaigns themselves in a bid to expand voters’ access to the polls and ensure their votes are counted.
Though the efforts in the hurricane-hit southern states have taken very different shapes, the shared goal is to increase engagement and participation in the 2024 presidential race, in which candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump remain locked in a virtual dead heat with less than a month until Election Day.
In North Carolina, efforts have been focused on helping displaced residents access polling locations in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which barreled onto shore last month as a Category 4 storm, killing more than 220 people and causing billions of dollars in destruction.
The bulk of the storm’s destruction was concentrated in western North Carolina and in Georgia, two competitive states that could play a key role in determining the next president. Roughly 17% of North Carolina’s registered voters reside in the counties that were designated as disaster areas in the aftermath of Helene, Michael Bitzer, a professor of politics and history at Catawba College, previously told Fox News.
‘CAN’T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE’: NC CONGRESSMAN RAISES ALARM ON VOTER ACCESS IN AREAS HARD HIT BY HELENE
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell speaks during a news conference at the White House. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
North Carolina
Stein announces $40 million in recovery, mitigation grants for Western North Carolina
MARION, N.C. (WTVD) — Gov. Josh Stein on Friday announced more than $24 million in mitigation grants and another $16 million for volunteer rebuilding organizations during a Western North Carolina Recovery meeting in Marion.
The funding supports longterm recovery from Hurricane Helene and is intended to help communities better withstand future natural disasters.
State officials said the mitigation grants will help local governments upgrade wastewater and water infrastructure, strengthen transportation systems, relocate facilities out of flood-prone areas, expand flood warning networks and develop shovel ready recovery projects. Nonprofit groups aiding families with home repairs and reconstruction will receive the volunteer-based grants.
“Western North Carolina is coming back strong from Hurricane Helene,” Stein said, adding that recovery requires cooperation among government, private and nonprofit partners.
North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray said the grants reflect a “wholeofcommunity effort” to reduce risk and help towns rebuild stronger.
Over two dozen communities and organizations – including Conover, Hendersonville, Clyde, Marion, Black Mountain, Banner Elk and multiple county agencies – will receive funding for projects ranging from flood gauge installations to dam restoration and wastewater improvements.
WATCH | Hurricane Helene: One Year Later: WNC leans into its resilience, faith and hope
Hurricane Helene: One Year Later (1 of 26)
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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Gas prices are hitting the highest level since September 2024, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
On Friday, March 6, western North Carolina drivers were already experiencing shock at the pump.
News 13 caught up with some drivers at a gas station in Henderson County, where the price per gallon was just a penny under $3, sitting at $2.99.
This comes as Tuesday marked the largest single-day jump at the pump since March 2022, according to ABC News, citing Gas Buddy sources.
REPORT: ASHEVILLE GAS PRICES RISE, MORE INCREASES EXPECTED AMID WAR IN MIDDLE EAST
Drivers we spoke with say they’re feeling the fuel costs climb and needless to say, they’re not too pleased.
“Here, it’s the first time I’m seeing the price that high,” said driver and Hendersonville resident Ricardo Martineati. “We don’t understand why the price is going up, but it is what it is. I hope it comes back to what it used to be pretty soon.”
MARCH 6, 2026 – A gas station in western North Carolina. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
Part of the reason for the gas price change is that crude prices surged 35% this week as Iran threatens the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical route many oil producers use to get oil to market, ABC News reports.
Martineati knows it’s not much, but he says he’s got a strategy to save.
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“Just try to slow down on the takeoff, on the coming to a stop to save some fuel, but that’s it,” Martineati said.
And with all this price pressure, he added that he’s picking a positive perspective.
“At least I’m not driving a diesel-fueled truck,” Martineati said.
While WNC hovers around $3 a gallon, depending on your location, the state is still below the national average of $3.30 a gallon, according to AAA.
North Carolina
NC to receive nearly $70M in FEMA funds, Madsion County manager says $14M hasn’t arrived
MADISON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Senator Tedd Budd’s office announced nearly $70 million in public assistance FEMA funds for Helene recovery toward the North Carolina Department of Transportation, cities and counties.
Madison County Manager Rod Honeycutt created a color-coded spreadsheet of projects, both paid and unpaid. Honeycutt said he sends the spreadsheet to federal leaders’ offices, including Budd’s, regularly to ensure staff are aware of what’s not reimbursed.
Honeycutt estimates about $14 million in reimbursements from FEMA haven’t come through.
As for the $1.9 million just approved for Madison County’s emergency protective measures, including laborers, equipment reimbursement, Honeycutt said the county doesn’t have it yet.
NORTH CAROLINA TO RECEIVE $70M IN ADDITIONAL FEMA FUNDING AS NOEM FACES CRITICISM
“It’s coming back to our fund balance,” said Honeycutt. “And we know it will take six more weeks for it to get through the state and to the county.”
Honeycutt estimates that within six months, FEMA will resolve all reimbursements. He said debris removal jobs along the French Broad River have been delayed as FEMA continues to review the applications.
In Marshall, the town has leased store spaces on Main Street, along with signs advertising leasing available. But longtime resident, artist and business owner Josh Copus is optimistic that Marshall and its community will thrive once again. He acknowledged that FEMA funds and reimbursements to clean up have been an important part of the area’s recovery.
MORE THAN $3.5M HEADED TO BURKE COUNTY FOR CONTINUED HELENE RECOVERY
“I would say our town is 50% fixed and our town was 100% destroyed, so 50% is pretty good,” Copus said.
The awards include:
- Biltmore Forest: $2.5 million for debris removal reimbursement.
- Buncombe County Sewage District: $1.57 million reimbursement for line repairs, vacuuming, line replacements and riverbank restoration.
- Old Fort: $1.15 million Westerman Street Waterline for potable water reimbursement.
- Mitchell County: $11.9 million for debris contractors, tipping fees and debris monitoring reimbursement.
- Buncombe County: $3.5 million toward labor costs for 836 laborers during and after Helene reimbursement.
- Asheville: $5.6 million for North Fork Treatment Plant repairs reimbursement.
- Lake Lure: $1.48 million for lake safety repairs reimbursement.
- Madison County: $1.9 million for emergency protective measures, including laborers, equipment reimbursement.
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