Valdese nears complete FEMA reimbursement as recovery advances

Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene ravaged Burke County, the Town of Valdese has secured approval for $755,828 in FEMA Public Assistance funds and has completed all but one of its submitted projects — a major milestone even as the final repair remains pending.

Assistant Town Manager Bo Weichel said the town has so far received $152,591 in reimbursement, with other project requests denied for ineligibility.

The storm’s statewide footprint was immense: North Carolina sustained estimated damages approaching $59.6 billion, and at least 108 lives were lost in the state.

In the months that followed, Valdese’s officials moved swiftly to document and submit repair costs to FEMA under the agency’s Public Assistance Program.

“We are always prepared as much as possible for emergency situations,” Weichel said. “So, it (Helene) hasn’t changed how we prioritize our infrastructure.”

All but one of the projects that were deemed eligible have been completed, though six requests were denied outright due to ineligibility. Among the six denials: repairs to the boom on the brush truck, spark plugs for chainsaws, and the dog-park fence.

The one remaining outstanding item is the Dezurik air actuated valve operator in the water plant system, still awaiting repair.

The town’s submitted projects fall into several categories, including water plant repairs and parks and recreation.

Burke County’s leadership has also taken action. In March 2025, the county Board of Commissioners formally requested the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to help address debris removal in waterways and on private property, beyond the public right-of-way.

The county’s debris removal of roadways is nearing completion, and the next phase focuses on restoring stream channels, clearing sediment, and restoring flood resilience.

While Valdese’s infrastructure projects represent one slice of recovery, the human toll and community disruption have been profound. In many parts of western North Carolina, power outages lasted days or weeks, and entire roads were impassable.

Across the region, 97% of roads have now been reopened after the storm’s destruction.

The uneven pace of recovery across municipalities has added to frustration. Some towns that once had easy access to state or federal liaisons report delays in processing, auditing, or materially spending funds.

Valdese, by contrast, has managed a relatively clean permitting and closeout process — though the final valve repair remains. For Valdese, the road ahead is shorter now, but not quite yet entirely paved.