Two Years After Helene: 159 Homes Rebuilt and 804 in the Pipeline

Two years after Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, the state is taking stock. The N.C. Department of Commerce released a summary on September 25 of what it has done since.

Housing

Commerce says it has administered $1.4 billion in federal recovery funds through Renew NC, the state's program for federal disaster-recovery housing money. The department's Division of Community Revitalization, created by Governor Josh Stein's Executive Order No. 3 to lead the effort, reports:

• 159 homes completed through Renew NC.
• 804 homes in construction or pre-construction: 167 under construction and 637 in pre-construction.
• 828 affordable rental units approved.

The department says North Carolina launched Renew NC faster than almost any comparable federal program in more than a decade nationwide.

Work and Business

Beyond housing, Commerce reports that more than 425 workers have been placed in temporary jobs and training, and that it has paid out $96.8 million in disaster-related unemployment insurance benefits. It also cites $36 million in small-business public infrastructure grants. On the economic development side, announced projects are expected to bring 4,105 jobs and $3.2 billion in capital investment to the region.

Tourism, a pillar of the mountain economy, is part of the tally too. The department says visitor spending in the mountains reached about $7.7 billion.

Looking Ahead

Governor Stein said recovery has progressed meaningfully over two years and that the state must keep supporting housing, critical infrastructure and small businesses. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said western North Carolina has shown remarkable grit since Helene and that the department is committed to the recovery for the long term.

The figures also show how much remains. Of the homes in the Renew NC pipeline, roughly four in five have yet to start construction.

Source: N.C. Department of Commerce, September 25, 2026.