1. Specific type of unit of local government, federally recognized tribe, or volunteer fire department
   • Make sure you fill out the correct application for your applicant type.
2. Primary point of contact
3. FEMA Public Assistance Category
4. FEMA Public Assistance Application Status
5. Other funding applied for or planning to apply for (project specific)
6. Description/Summary of Infrastructure damage
7. Proposed project Details
   • Project Summary
8. Proposed project Details and Location
   • Coordinates, IF you cannot find coordinates, an address or cross roads
   • City or nearest city
   • County
   • ZIP Code
9. Proposed Project Dates and Cost - Anticipated Start and End date (can be in the past if project is complete)
10. Proposed Project Total Cost - the cost of the project not considering any particular source of funding
11. Grant Amount Requested - There is 5% cap ($5,737,500) per recipient, make sure you are calculating your maximum award amount correctly if you've received funding from this program in the past

Electronic Copies of Documents You Will Need to Upload into Application

1. Damage documentation (reports, images, etc.)
2. If you have a FEMA denial document (email, letter, or otherwise),
3. If you do not have a FEMA denial, you will need a supplemental document explaining why the project is not eligible for FEMA PA funding

• November 23, 2026

• City
• County
• Federally recognized tribes
• Fire departments and rescue squads
• Units of local government

What is an Eligible Project?

These grants must be used for capital projects to repair, renovate, or replace infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene. These capital projects must be projects that are not eligible for FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Local government units or federally recognized tribes located on trust lands with projects that are not eligible for FEMA Public Assistance (FEMA PA) funding may apply for a grant. See G.S. 159G-20 for a definition of a unit of local government for the purposes of this grant.

If you completed an application in the first round and would like to reapply for the same project, you must submit a new application for the 2026 funding cycle.

The applying local government or federally recognized tribe must fall within one of the FEMA Designated Areas for Hurricane Helene.

A volunteer fire department that meets all of the following criteria is eligible to apply for a grant under the program:

1.  Located in a FEMA Designated Area for Hurricane Helene
2. Suffered damage from Hurricane Helene to site preparation, a fire station, or land purchase for relocation.
3. Is not a municipal fire department or owned by a unit of local government or political subdivision of the State.
4. Has previously been certified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

OSBM will prioritize grants to an eligible recipient based on the following criteria set in statute:

• An eligible recipient with a population of 250,000 or fewer based on the 2023 Certified County Population Estimates from the State Demographer
• An unincorporated area in the affected area that suffered catastrophic damage, as defined in S.L. 2025‑97. If a county applies on behalf of an unincorporated area, then those funds shall only be spent in that unincorporated area and not elsewhere within that county.

OSBM is required to consult with North Carolina Emergency Management to confirm projects would be ineligible for FEMA PA reimbursement.

Award amounts are based on statutory caps per recipient and county. Because of this, grant applications are evaluated and grants awarded after the deadline closes, not on a rolling basis.