FEMA Approves $971 Million for Disaster Recovery Across the Southeast

ATLANTA — Federal officials have approved more than $971 million in new disaster recovery funding for six Southeastern states, supporting debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repairs to public infrastructure damaged in recent storms.

The funding, announced by FEMA, covers Public Assistance projects in Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. It is part of a broader national effort by the Department of Homeland Security, which reported that more than $2.2 billion in Public Assistance grants were approved nationwide in the past week alone.

Major Grants Awarded Across the Region

Recent FEMA approvals include:

• $200 million to North Carolina Emergency Management for emergency protective measures following Hurricane Helene.
• $86 million to the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management for debris removal after the July 2022 floods.
• $58 million to the Georgia Department of Transportation for debris removal tied to Helene.
• $36 million to the South Carolina Department of Transportation for debris removal related to Helene.
• $27 million to the Greenville Water Commission in Tennessee for permanent repairs to facilities damaged by Helene.
• $6.4 million to Walthall County, Mississippi for debris removal following severe storms in March 2025.

FEMA officials said the agency will continue reviewing additional projects and will obligate more funds as eligibility reviews are completed and scopes of work are finalized.

The Public Assistance program helps state and local governments, as well as certain nonprofits, recover from major disasters by funding critical repairs and emergency response costs.