August 5, 2025

South Carolina Allocates $150 Million for Hurricane Helene Recovery

News Summary

The South Carolina Office of Resilience is set to provide over $150 million in federal funding for long-term recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. This funding, approved by HUD, aims to assist low-to-moderate income homeowners and include various housing activities. The total disaster recovery needs in South Carolina are approximately $2.1 billion. The application process is expected to open by the end of September for eligible residents from 15 counties and will also include mitigation efforts to reduce future disaster impacts.

Columbia, South Carolina – The South Carolina Office of Resilience is set to allocate more than $150 million in federal funding for long-term recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene, following recent approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This funding comes from the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, which was initially allocated in January 2025.

The HUD approval of the South Carolina Office of Resilience’s Hurricane Helene Action Plan is a critical step in providing much-needed disaster recovery assistance to residents affected by the hurricane. The total estimated unmet needs resulting from Hurricane Helene in South Carolina are approximately $2.1 billion, encompassing housing, infrastructure, and economic revitalization requirements.

According to the approved action plan, the CDBG-DR funding will cover various eligible housing activities, including:

Rehabilitation, replacement, and reconstruction of single-family homes
Rehabilitation of rental housing
Voluntary buyouts for homeowners significantly impacted by the disaster

This funding is specifically designed for low-to-moderate income homeowners and rental property owners whose lives have been adversely affected by Hurricane Helene. For eligibility, low-to-moderate income is defined as earning 30% or less of the area median income.

The application process for the housing recovery program is expected to open by the end of September 2025, allowing residents from 15 eligible counties, including Aiken, Anderson, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Spartanburg, Abbeville, Cherokee, Edgefield, McCormick, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Saluda, and Union, to apply for funding.

In addition to housing recovery efforts, approximately $19.6 million of the CDBG-DR funds will be allocated toward mitigation projects aimed at boosting resilience and mitigating the impact of future disasters. Eligible mitigation activities will comprise stormwater infrastructure improvements, voluntary buyouts, planning studies, and matching funds for other federal mitigation grants.

Local governments and state agencies in counties such as Greenville, Laurens, Spartanburg, Anderson, Aiken, and Greenwood will be able to apply for funding through the mitigation program. Applications for this program are anticipated to open in the fall of 2025.

The South Carolina Office of Resilience is actively working to facilitate the application process by organizing meetings with local governments in eligible counties before the application openings. In addition, the Office is in the process of finalizing the selection of an implementation contractor for the housing recovery program, which is expected to significantly enhance the recovery efforts.

As part of ongoing assistance for survivors, the Disaster Case Management team is conducting mobile intake events to help connect affected residents with essential recovery resources.

Further details regarding the approved action plan and recovery programs are available at scor.sc.gov/Helene, guiding affected individuals and local agencies through the available resources and support systems established for Hurricane Helene recovery.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

HUD Approves $150 Million Recovery Plan for South Carolina
Lutheran Services Carolinas Receives Grants for Hurricane Helene Recovery
Greenville Bridge Replacement Project Delayed Until 2025
Lutheran Services Carolinas Receives Grants for Hurricane Recovery
Greenwood County Awarded $15,000 for Swift Water Rescue Equipment
Greenwood County Enhances Hurricane Preparedness with Grant
Public Meeting on Hurricane Helene Recovery in Greenwood
Greenwood High School Celebrates Graduation Day
Duke Energy’s Vision for South Carolina’s Energy Future
Duke Energy’s Strategic Focus on South Carolina’s Energy Future

Additional Resources

Author: HERE Greenwood

The GREENWOOD STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREGreenwood.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Greenwood, Greenwood County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Festival of Flowers, Greenwood Community Theatre performances, and agricultural showcases at the Greenwood County Fairgrounds. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Greenwood United Ministry, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare that power the local economy such as FujiFilm Manufacturing and Self Regional Healthcare. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharleston.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGreenville.com, and HEREHiltonHead.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.

HERE Greenwood

ADD MORE INFORMATION OR CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ARTICLE CLICK HERE!

Stay Connected

More Updates

Would You Like To Add Your Business?

Submit