FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
09/26/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/26/2025 14:09
Recovery Efforts Continue One Year After Hurricanes Helene and Milton
On Sept. 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall, leaving behind a wide trail of destruction as it traversed the southeastern United States. Eight states and countless communities experienced devastating effects, with the greatest impact happening far from coastal areas in the mountainous region of western North Carolina, where flash floods and landslides caused major damage to the state's infrastructure. Just 13 days later, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a category 3 storm, causing further destruction to areas already impacted by Helene.
Our state and local partners responded quickly to both hurricanes with life-saving operations and emergency sheltering. FEMA coordinated with them to deploy search-and-rescue teams, open Disaster Recovery Centers and initiate Transitional Sheltering Assistance.
Since Jan. 20, the Trump Administration has prioritized locally led recovery and provided more than $4.4 billion in funding to speed up debris removal and fund critical infrastructure projects across the Southeast. In total, more than 107 million cubic yards of debris has been cleared.
Our state and local government partners have continued to lead response efforts, with FEMA stepping in to support. In the last two months alone, nearly $509 million in Helene Public Assistance funding has been approved for 109 projects across all affected states. We must stay focused as we continue to deliver on our mission.
FEMA is providing disaster housing in four states for 1,026 families, and 299 have already found a permanent housing solution.
We also enabled the removal of millions of cubic yards of debris from roads and waterways by federal partners, while also restoring access and reducing flood risks. We worked with our partners to help thousands of residents repair private-access roads and bridges.
Under the leadership of President Trump, FEMA is streamlining disaster response and accelerating delivery of relief to those in need. Using this model, our efforts will focus on state-led, federally supported response and recovery efforts to reduce bureaucracy and red tape.
FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons deployed in North Carolina have teamed up with a coalition of nonprofit voluntary organizations to amplify support for survivors. At the heart of this effort is Bridging Together, an initiative led by Mennonite Disaster Service and Lutheran Disaster Response, focused on restoring damaged private roads and bridges.
In total, more than $2.9 billion in FEMA assistance has gone into the hands of survivors in all areas affected by those storms. FEMA has also paid $7.86 billion in flood insurance claims, while the U.S. Small Business Administration provided more than $1.5 billion in low-interest disaster loans to home and business owners.
Jonesborough, Tenn. - Betty Francis is thrilled to see her new home taking shape on her property next to the temporary home that FEMA provided after Hurricane Helene.
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Jonesborough, Tenn. - Donald Cutshaw stands outside his FEMA-provided temporary home, which was installed on his property in February 2025. The home he is building to replace the one he lost in Tropical Storm Helene will face his favorite mountain view.
The Trump administration's reforms reflect a broader effort to realign FEMA with its foundational purpose-providing timely, effective support to disaster-stricken communities.
FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency published this content on September 26, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 26, 2025 at 20:10 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]