In the latest round of hazard mitigation funds for Hurricane Matthew-damaged homes, five communities in Eastern North Carolina will receive a total of $20.8 million.
The funds will be used to buy out, elevate or reconstruct 192 properties, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety's Emergency Management Division announced on Friday. Most of the homes will be acquired, allowing residents to find housing outside the floodplain.
In Wayne County, homeowners will receive more than $7.8 million to acquire 84 properties, and Windsor residents will receive more than $5 million to buyout 34 properties and elevate 11 homes.
"Residents in Wayne County and Windsor have been eagerly awaiting this news," Mike Sprayberry, state emergency management director, said in a release. "Soon they will get started with these projets to get families into more resilient homes."
By early August, communties still recovering from Hurricane Matthew are expected to receive roughly $115 million in total Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds, according to state emergency management officials.
Recipients of this latest round of hazard mitigation grant funds include:
Town of Fair Bluff - more than $3.6 million to acquire 34 properties
Pender County - more than $2 million to elevate 14 homes
Robeson County - more than $2 million to reconstruct 15 homes
Wayne County - more than $7.8 million to acquire 84 properties
Town of Windsor - more than $5.2 million to acquire 34 properties