Haywood County sets July 11 deadline for Helene hazard-mitigation applications as buyout work continues

Haywood County officials told the Board of Commissioners on June 16 that homeowners affected by Hurricane Helene must submit hazard-mitigation applications by close of business July 11 if they want consideration for FEMA-funded buyouts, elevation or slope-stabilization programs.

Project manager Cody Grama said 66 property owners have expressed interest in the county’s post-Helene mitigation program and gave a jurisdictional breakdown: "16 are in Haywood County, 3 in Canton, 42 in Clyde, and 4 in the town of Waynesville." He said five homeowners asked about elevation, 17 about slope stabilization and one about flood proofing. "July 11 close of business will be the last day we accept applications from homeowners for hazard mitigation," Grama said.

The nut of the discussion was timing and eligibility: Grama told commissioners the county submits homeowner packages to the state, which compiles and forwards them to FEMA, and that no western North Carolina county had yet received final FEMA approvals. He urged homeowners to submit completed or draft applications before the deadline: "We need more than just interest by July 11. I need to actually get the application." He added that engineers’ reports will be required for the new FEMA landslide-stabilization program and that none have been approved in the state yet.

Flood-plain manager Jody Ferguson described longer-term mapping and appeals processes tied to FEMA and the state. She said new lidar data for the French Broad River basin has been collected and that updated maps will be preliminary and subject to county review and public comment. "Shortest timeframe, 18 months, but probably more like 24 or 36," Ferguson said when asked about when new maps might be finalized.

Commissioners and staff also discussed program logistics and homeowner obligations. Grama said elevation projects typically require homeowners to maintain flood insurance in perpetuity: "The homeowner would have to maintain flood insurance on the property in perpetuity if they elevate." He said elevation eligibility depends on whether a house can be raised without structural damage and that houses built on slabs may be directed toward the buyout option instead.

Planning staff reported that substantial-damage letters have been issued: development services sent 53 substantial-damage letters for the unincorporated county (16 were carryovers from flood events tied to prior storms) and 147 letters in Clyde (11 reassessments from the earlier storm). Ferguson reminded property owners that appeals of the county’s October 16, 2024 letters will close July 13, 2025 for the earliest batch and that a county extension pushed some appeal deadlines to Aug. 15, 2025; she reported five successful appeals in the county and eight in Clyde to date.

County staff emphasized resources available to residents: applicants can begin at readyhaywood.com and email mitigation@haywoodcountync.gov; a disaster-recovery center remains open for in-person help with FEMA appeals, SBA loans and individual assistance. Grama said a small set of Fred buyouts have progressed and that several closings are expected after the state’s fiscal-year actions around July 1.

The county encouraged residents who are uncertain to file applications now; staff said owners may withdraw applications up until closing and that being on the list puts a property on the state’s radar. Grama offered timing guidance to homeowners preparing financially for the wait: "Best case, a year. Worst case, 2 years."