Four Rebuilt North Carolina Homes Set for Demolition After FEMA Buyouts

After Hurricane Helene flooded western North Carolina in September 2024, four homes on Leyland Circle in Hendersonville were restored by owners with their own money and volunteer assistance. The homeowners subsequently opted into the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program’s voluntary buyout, which FEMA approves and the state purchases at pre-storm value. Once the purchase is finalized, the houses will be demolished and the parcels converted to public green space to reduce future flood risk.

Some neighbors questioned why repaired, habitable homes are being removed rather than allocated to those who lost housing in the storm. The program reflects a broader state effort to acquire flood-prone properties and restore them to natural floodplain functions.