North Carolina Emergency Management, a division of the state Department of Public Safety, has announced an August 31 deadline for residents in Tropical Storm Helene disaster-declared counties to submit interest forms for the Private Road and Bridge (NC-PRB) Program. The initiative supports permanent repairs to private roads and bridges damaged during the 2024 storm.
In addition to ongoing repairs, the state will open a new application window in early September to distribute $25 million in reimbursements for eligible projects already completed. Approved applicants may receive up to 50 percent of their project costs. Applications will be accepted through February 2026.
Established under the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part I, the NC-PRB Program prioritizes access routes that are the only connection to occupied residential properties or that serve multiple homes, recreation sites, or commercial facilities.
Since launching in spring 2025, the program has received over 5,100 interest forms covering nearly 16,000 households. More than 4,700 on-site assessments have been completed. Construction is underway in Yancey, McDowell, and Buncombe counties, with 128 sites slated for construction and 137 in engineering design. Additional contracts are expected to be awarded in August.
The program is backed by $100 million in state funding. All projects—except those granted to qualified nonprofit organizations—will be managed by the state using approved contractors and engineering firms.