RALEIGH, N.C. (WAVY) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Aug. 11 that $409.4 million was allocated to North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) for public water systems.
The allocated money would ensure the local drinking water utility infrastructure would be improved to better prepare the state for future disasters.
In 2024, Hurricane Helene ravished North Carolina, where they suffered one of the highest death tolls of the southeastern states.
100+ years later: Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc on Asheville, mirroring the worst disaster in western North Carolina history
“In February, I visited communities in Asheville to witness firsthand the crucial role drinking water utilities have in responding to natural disasters,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “This funding to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality will help secure the infrastructure of these systems to ensure EPA can fulfill its core mission to protect human health and the environment.”…