Here’s a check of the latest from WataugaOnline.com.
Two Years After Helene, FEMA Recovery Funding Tops $7.5 Billion
Two years after Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, FEMA says its recovery funding for the state has topped $7.5 billion — including more than $2.5 billion for roughly 3,000 recovery projects, $567.9 million to about 161,000 families for home repairs and rent, and $219.5 million paid out in flood insurance claims. Watauga County is also among the counties named in a FEMA flood-buyout program, with more than $34 million set aside to acquire nearly 80 flood-prone properties across the region. FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton toured recovery sites in the region this month, saying the work is “far from finished.”
Governor Stein Announces $65 Million for Grant Program to Support Hurricane Helene Capital Projects
Governor Stein announced $65 million for the second round of a state-funded grant program to help local governments and volunteer fire departments recover from Hurricane Helene. The Helene Local Government Capital Grant Program, administered by the Office of State Budget and Management, will fund repair, renovation, or replacement of infrastructure damaged by the storm. Eligible projects must fall in FEMA-designated areas and be ineligible for FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement; the application deadline is November 23, 2026.
App State Update from Chancellor Dr. Heather Norris
Chancellor Heather Norris highlighted a strong week for Appalachian State in her latest campus update: five national publications — including U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, and Forbes — recently ranked App State among the Southeast’s top schools, including No. 2 among public schools and No. 1 for best value for in-state students. Norris also recapped the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Spirit of Boone” gathering, hosted on App State’s campus, where Gov. Josh Stein and First Lady Anna Stein received the chamber’s Sue W. Wilmoth Award for Advancement of Tourism, and four App State community members and alumni were honored with Community Awards.
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— WataugaOnline