Greater Asheville residents frequently impacted by flooding could soon see relief, thanks to $5.7 million in grants for flood resiliency projects in the French Broad River Basin. Governor Josh Stein and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced the funding today in Woodfin. The aim is to bolster flood protection for communities vulnerable to river flooding. These projects could reduce the economic strain of future flooding on homes, businesses, and transportation infrastructure.
The grants, allocated through the DEQ's Flood Resiliency program, will support long-term infrastructure improvements. The French Broad River Basin has a history of flooding that disrupts daily life, jobs, and the local economy in Western North Carolina. These disruptions often lead to property damage and business closures.
This governmental funding could tangibly improve residents' financial well-being. Flood mitigation projects may lower insurance costs, protect buying power by reducing recovery expenses, and stabilize the regional economy by safeguarding infrastructure.