Overview

• USDOT awarded NCDOT $1.15 billion in FHWA Emergency Relief for Helene repairs, the program’s largest single state allocation, bringing federal highway aid to nearly $2 billion.
• FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster and Gov. Josh Stein are set to give an I-40 progress update Friday as limited access continues on the Asheville–Knoxville corridor.
• Despite infrastructure gains—96% of water systems online, 97% of state-maintained roads reopened, and state parks back in service—roughly $44.7 billion in damage remains unfunded.
• FEMA has approved about $1.3 billion for North Carolina, while federal agencies have sent roughly $5 billion against requests exceeding $20 billion, according to state recovery officials.
• County leaders report severe cashflow strain from unreimbursed debris costs, and nonprofits such as Samaritan’s Purse have mobilized tens of thousands of volunteers and direct aid to fill critical gaps.