WNC Property Buyouts Stuck in 'Limbo': Families Wait on Federal Bureaucracy to Unlock $1.6 Billion HMGP Fund
By Marge | Published 2025-10-14T18:09:17.398+00:00
News
WNC -- October 14, 2025: More than 300 western North Carolina property owners seeking relief after Tropical Storm Helene remain in a prolonged waiting game as the state awaits crucial final funding approvals for the federal buyout program.
While federal officials have assured approximately $1.6 billion will be available to fund mitigation projects—a program known as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)—not a single property owner has been bought out, creating a significant point of frustration for state and local leaders.The Approval-vs.-Release BottleneckThe current situation centers on the two-stage federal funding process and a recent, more stringent review requirement:The Funding Status is Unclear: It is not publicly cle