Major Disaster Declaration for North Carolina

North Carolina Declared Federal Disaster Area

The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of North Carolina in the areas affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides during the period of July 3-13, 2013.

Worst of the damage caused the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides have occurred in the counties of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Watauga, and Yancey and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said Fema.

Western North Carolina to Receive Federal Aid for Flood Repairs

“This summer’s flooding was a sobering reminder that all regions of our state are vulnerable to flooding even without hurricanes,” said NC Governor McCrory. “These communities did a great job responding to the devastating floods and landslides. Now we can help them recover financially.”

Catawba, Lincoln and Wilkes counties were included in the state’s aid request but were not included in the federal disaster declaration. The state is appealing to FEMA to reconsider the counties that were omitted.

A series of severe thunderstorms and heavy rains dumped between 10 and 20 inches of rain over much of the foothills and mountains from July 3 through 27.

Several locations reported more than 20 inches of rainfall and many counties reported the wettest July on record. The record-breaking rainfall damaged roads, bridges, culverts, public utilities, parks and even some schools in many western counties.

See more at http://www.governor.state.nc.us/