Edwards, Davis, Moore, colleagues introduce bill to repair WNC private roads and bridges destroyed by Helene

U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) introduced the Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act to allow states and local governments to pay for and complete permanent repairs to private roads and bridges, and receive reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program for those repairs.

This bipartisan bill is co-led by Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) and Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14). Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) is leading the Senate companion bill along with Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) as a co-lead.

Private roads make up almost 50 percent of all roads in Western North Carolina, and according to the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, Hurricane Helene damaged over 7,000 of those private roads, bridges, and culverts.

FEMA has approved funding for thousands of minor repairs, but FEMA Individual Assistance is insufficient to cover the costs of larger repairs and replacements so additional federal support is required.

The Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act would ease the burden on Western North Carolina families by allowing the N.C. Department of Transportation and local governments to be reimbursed by FEMA for any repairs they make to private roads or bridges.

Congressman Edwards said, "Every disaster response official I’ve heard from agrees on one thing: Hurricane Helene destroyed the greatest number of private roads and bridges they’ve ever seen in one disaster. We’re entering month six since Helene hit our mountains, and there are still folks with limited access to their homes. Without additional help from the federal government, some of these roads may never be repaired, so the federal support provided by this bill is critical to making sure WNC communities can finally rebuild.”

“The Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act will provide local governments and the NC Department of Transportation the authority to repair essential infrastructure and receive reimbursement for those efforts, helping to ensure a smoother return to safety, stability, and peace of mind for those who depend on these vital connections to get to work, school, and go about their daily lives,” said Congressman Davis. “We must ensure a timely and effective recovery for western NC.”

Congressman Moore said, “Western North Carolina is home to some of the most resilient and hardworking communities in the nation, and we owe it to them to ensure that critical infrastructure like roads and bridges can be quickly restored after Hurricane Helene. Right now, too many families are struggling to get where they need to go because of destroyed roads and washed-out bridges. This bipartisan bill will help reconnect our communities and ensure FEMA resources are used effectively to support recovery efforts. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation alongside Congressmen Edwards and Davis to deliver practical, common-sense solutions for our region.”

Senator Budd said, “Mountain homes often require private roads and bridges to connect their property to main roads and highways. Given FEMA’s Individual Assistance cap and the extensive cost of rebuilding these access points, I am proud to propose a bill that will allow the people of Western North Carolina to use Public Assistance dollars to regain access to their homes.”

Senator Tillis said, “Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation, leaving many communities in Western North Carolina severely impacted and cut off from one another. This commonsense legislation ensures that FEMA public assistance funding can be used to repair private roads and bridges destroyed by the hurricane, allowing families in the hardest-hit areas to reconnect to main roads and highways as they continue to recover.”