Vance Touts $858 Million Helene Road Allocation At GOP Rally

Vice President JD Vance used a Hendersonville rally to highlight $858 million in federal highway aid for Hurricane Helene repairs, tying the recovery award to Republicans’ closing pitch in western North Carolina.

The figure Vance cited represents the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s share. A separate Federal Highway Administration breakdown assigns another $13.25 million to U.S. Forest Service roads and about $2.21 million to Bureau of Indian Affairs transportation sites, bringing the state’s Helene-related total to roughly $873.5 million.

Vance said the money would support eight major damaged corridors, including Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River Gorge. Helene destroyed or severely damaged about five miles of the interstate near Tennessee. NCDOT estimates permanent reconstruction will cost roughly $2.8 billion, with four lanes expected to reopen in late 2029, though unstable ground could change the timetable.

The money comes through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, which reimburses eligible road, bridge and emergency-access costs rather than providing direct aid to homeowners. Federal officials say Helene created more than 9,000 transportation damage sites and over 1,400 road closures statewide.

The allocation brings the federal highway commitment for Helene repairs in North Carolina to about $2.9 billion.

Vance made the announcement while campaigning for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley and House candidates Jennifer Balkcom and Laurie Buckhout. He credited President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Whatley attacked former Gov. Roy Cooper’s recovery record, while Cooper’s campaign said his administration activated emergency resources and secured major state and federal assistance.

Nearly 99% of storm-affected state roads have reopened, but NCDOT estimates the full transportation recovery will cost about $5 billion. The new allocation is a reimbursement milestone, not the end of a rebuilding effort expected to continue for years.