The Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security must restore millions in funding to North Carolina and other states after a federal judge ruled the agencies placed unlawful restrictions on emergency management grants, according to court documents filed on Dec. 23.
The ruling arises from a lawsuit over restrictions placed on FEMA grant programs without the approval of Congress. The grants are used to pay the state’s emergency workers and fund disaster response, according to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office.
During Tropical Storm Helene, which devastated the region in late September 2024, the office said North Carolina used these funds to activate and deploy trained emergency management personnel, coordinate lifesaving rescue operations and shelters, and operate during widespread power and communications outages.
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