RALEIGH — N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler encourages communities impacted by Hurricane Helene to apply for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program, which responds to emergencies created by natural disasters.  It is not necessary for a national emergency to be declared for an area to be eligible for assistance.
            

“The Emergency Watershed Protection program is not as widely known or used historically in Western N.C. communities, but funding is available and this program could be beneficial in ongoing recovery efforts,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “I want to make sure that groups eligible to apply for EWP are aware of this program and the upcoming application deadline and I urge communities to look and see how this program can help.”
            

EWP is an emergency recovery program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. EWP objectives are to relieve imminent hazards to life and structures/infrastructures caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other natural occurrences. With the exception of floodplain easements, USDA-NRCS does not provide EWP assistance directly to private property owners. All projects undertaken, which include public and private properties, must have a project sponsor.  
            

EWP is available to eligible sponsors; a legal subdivision of the state, such as a state agency, county, city, town, soil and water conservation district, or an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization.  Potential sponsors should reach out to their local NRCS office for additional program information including templates for preparing requests for assistance to NRCS. Sponsors cannot be reimbursed for work done prior to entering into a formal agreement with NRCS.  NRCS state conservationist, Tim Beard, is currently accepting requests for assistance through Jan. 31, 2025.  
            

For Tropical Storm Helene, USDA-NRCS may provide up to 100 percent of the construction costs for eligible emergency measures. Sponsors are prohibited from utilizing other federal funds for EWP projects.  Funding is subject to Congressional approval.  
            

To get answers to your questions about EWP in North Carolina, contact your local NRCS office or the NRCS State Office at 919-873-2100.

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