Mitigation
Mitigation builds future resilience
and reduces the risk of damage and loss during disasters.
CDBG-Mitigation Grant Funding
Mitigation activities are supported by Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds, which were allocated to the state by the US Congress and approved for use by HUD. North Carolina received $168 million in CDBG-MIT funds in 2019 and $34.6 million in 2021, for a total of $202 million.
Under federal guidelines, CDBG-MIT funds must be used for projects that reduce future losses. Additionally, grantees must:
- Spend at least 50% of the funds to benefit counties that HUD designated as being “most impacted and distressed” by Hurricanes Florence and Matthew.
- Use at least 50% of the funds for activities that benefit low- and moderate-income residents.
Working with the State Disaster Recovery Task Force Housing Recovery Support Function Group, state officials established the CDBG-Mitigation Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) to serve as a forum for public participation and input regarding CDBG-Mitigation funding projects and programs. Information about committee meetings are posted to the online event calendar.
Mitigation Planning and Programs
Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funding has been used to support planning, technical assistance and programs that help North Carolina communities reduce disaster risks and prepare for future hazards.
Resilience planning and technical assistance
- RISE Regional Resilience Portfolio Program
Helped storm-impacted regions assess vulnerabilities, identify risk reduction priorities and strengthen local planning through technical assistance, a community planning guide and leadership workshops. - NC Resilience Exchange
Provides online hazard data, case studies, planning guidance and funding opportunities to help communities develop resilience projects. - Heat Action Plan Toolkit
Helps local governments protect residents from extreme heat through guidance developed with climate, public health and emergency management partners. - Eastern NC Community Floodprints
Supports 10 community plans that address flooding, recovery and equity in the most impacted and distressed communities. - NC Resilient Coastal Communities Program
Provides planning assistance in the state’s 20 coastal counties, with CDBG-MIT funding supporting 14 community resilience strategies. - Statewide Probable Maximum Precipitation Study
Updated estimates of worst-case rainfall and snowfall to guide safer design and placement of dams, culverts and drainage systems. - Low Flow Statistics Re-Evaluation Updated drought and streamflow data used to assess water availability, manage stormwater and support wastewater permitting.
- Natural Infrastructure Flood Mitigation Program
Supports watershed planning and evaluates nature-based approaches to reducing flood risks. - Atlas 14 Rainfall Statistics Update
Supports updated federal rainfall estimates used to design roads, bridges and stormwater systems. - Regional Precipitation Frequency Estimates and Data System
Updates rainfall projections to account for climate change, identifies future flood risks and makes the data accessible to users. - Downscaled Climate Projection Development
Developed local climate projections for hazards such as drought, heat, heavy rainfall and sea level rise, with a public web application maintained through December 2028. - Backup Energy Sources for Critical Facilities in Marginalized Communities
Developed a regional plan identifying backup power needs, priority projects and potential funding sources for vulnerable communities.
Recovery and community development programs
- Infrastructure Recovery Program
Repairs and strengthens public facilities damaged by hurricanes Matthew and Florence, including roads, schools, water systems and parks. Priorities include reducing future disaster risks and serving vulnerable communities. - Public Housing Restoration Fund
Repairs, rehabilitates or replaces storm-damaged public housing and improves resilience to future storms. - Affordable Housing Development Fund
Supports construction, rehabilitation and reconstruction of affordable housing through resilient design and planning. Assistance generally takes the form of loans. - Homeownership Assistance Program
Provided eligible first-time homebuyers up to $20,000 in down payment assistance, or $30,000 for first-generation buyers, plus up to 5% in closing costs. Applicants must live in or relocate to a county impacted by Matthew or Florence, earn no more than 120% of area median income and participate in housing counseling. Purchased homes must be outside the 100-year floodplain. - Housing Counseling
Helped prospective buyers assess housing options and prepare for homeownership through financial education, credit and budgeting assistance, foreclosure prevention and relocation guidance. - Code Enforcement and Compliance Support Program
Provided resources for code enforcement in deteriorating areas where mitigation-related construction increases demand, helping communities complete disaster recovery.