RALEIGH, N.C. — As the one-year mark of Tropical Storm Helene approaches, North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) is expanding the Private Road and Bridge (NC-PRB) Program to support storm recovery in declared counties.
New Reimbursement Option Starts in September
Thanks to a $25 million appropriation through the Helene Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part II, NCEM will launch a new online reimbursement portal next month. This allows eligible property owners to apply for up to 50% reimbursement on post-Helene repairs to private roads, bridges, culverts, or pipes.
Only properties in Helene-declared counties are eligible. The work must have restored sole property access to a primary residence or multiple occupied sites. Residents who already submitted interest forms will be notified when the portal opens. The application will remain open for six months or until funds are used.
Construction Progress Continues Across 3,500+ Sites
Since launch, the program has received over 6,000 requests and is actively working on more than 3,500 unique locations. So far, three full bridge replacements are complete, with 100+ more in progress—over 50 of which are rapid-deploy railcar-type bridges.
Repairs are also underway for roads, pipes, and culverts. New contracts awarded this month will allow the program to begin work at 100 additional sites, with emergency access needs prioritized.
What Property Owners Should Know
NCEM will reach out this month with individual status updates based on on-site assessments. Estimated timelines vary, but updates will include expected timeframes and project requirements.