Recovering from Hurricane Helene
In September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused unprecedented damage across western Carolina communities, damaging infrastructure, destroying homes, and impacting many lives. Many communities that had never experienced a major disaster were faced with navigating Å·²©ÓéÀÖ complex disaster recovery process. ICF provided immediate assistance to several affected communities by assessing and documenting damages, facilitating understanding of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance (FEMA PA) grant funding process, and seeking oÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr sources of federal recovery funding to maximize assistance.
When a community is eligible to receive FEMA Public Assistance (PA) funding for disaster recovery, it must accurately document all damage to ensure maximum reimbursement from FEMA. It is also essential to conduct damage assessments quickly so Å·²©ÓéÀÖ community can get back on its feet swiftly and meet FEMA's time requirements for full reimbursement. To expedite Å·²©ÓéÀÖ damage assessment process in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Carolinas, we deployed drones to collect high-resolution imagery of disaster-related damage.
Within weeks, we documented debris and damage across 110 square miles–nearly five times Å·²©ÓéÀÖ size of Manhattan–and an additional 80 linear miles of critical infrastructure in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Carolinas. Given that Western South Carolina’s rugged terrain is difficult to traverse on foot, using drones significantly accelerated Å·²©ÓéÀÖ data collection process. This data will help us move onto Å·²©ÓéÀÖ next phase of recovery: recommending recovery and mitigation projects to restore infrastructure and public services and support community revitalization.
The town of Lake Lure, which relies heavily on tourism, has faced significant economic challenges due to Å·²©ÓéÀÖ hurricane. It is crucial for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ community to recover quickly to resume welcoming visitors to activities that support Å·²©ÓéÀÖ local economy. ICF is assisting Å·²©ÓéÀÖ town with comprehensive disaster recovery management services, including FEMA Public Assistance and Individual Assistance Advisory Services, as well as financial and grant management support.
Building resilient communities

In Gastonia, North Carolina, we helped secure a $5.98M BRIC grant to stabilize Duharts Creek and realign critical sewer infrastructure. Gastonia’s poverty rate is 5.6 percentage points above Å·²©ÓéÀÖ 2020 national average, making Å·²©ÓéÀÖ inland community disproportionately susceptible to Å·²©ÓéÀÖ effects of extreme weaÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr events. This project will enhance Å·²©ÓéÀÖ city’s resilience against future disasters.
Saving millions (if not billions) of dollars in prevented damage