Western N.C. homeowners await word on FEMA buyouts

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The federal government has given western Carolina more than $1 billion in aid since Hurricane Helene hit.

But a lot of people are still waiting to receive help for housing more than a year later.

For about 10 years, MaryLynn Manns called Riverknoll home. 

Now, the home where she planned to live the rest of her life holds only the scaffolding of memories.

“It’s just really sad when I come here, because it used to be a cute little place,” Manns said.

The 45-townhome community in Buncombe County sits along the Swannanoa River.

Manns and her neighbor Betty Doll would walk to each other’s house in pajamas and drink wine.

“This was a really nice neighborhood. And most of these houses on this bottom level are now gutted. And they, you know, no windows, nothing,” Manns said. “And so these people are no longer here.” 

Doll’s house sits on the top the hill. The foundation is in danger of falling and can only be repaired if the riverbank is repaired. 

Manns’ and Doll’s houses are among the 21 in the neighborhood that are unlivable.

These residents were forced to move from their homes. Now many are paying for their mortgage on top of their expenses for their current home.

“There was so much damage. I think people are really traumatized by it all. And most of the residents are older individuals. And financially, the challenge of that, especially with having to live somewhere else now, depleting retirement savings,” Doll said.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program could help with these costs. The FEMA-funded program would allow the government to buy the homes at whatever the value was before Helene and would work to prevent future damage and losses. 

It’s been 14 months since the applications were submitted, but the local government and residents haven’t heard anything from the government about the money. So right now, those applications sit in limbo.

“We wonder where the money is, that’s what we’re wondering,” Manns said. “Where is the money for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program that we applied for?”

They are among hundreds of storm survivors waiting to hear back about the funding.

Spectrum News 1 reached out to FEMA to ask for a reason for the delay, but we have not gotten a response.

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