The commendation ceremony described Winter Storm Fern’s effects in late January 2026, including about 230,000 Nashville Electric Service customers without power at the storm’s peak. It recognized public agencies, organizations and workers for response and recovery support.

The city previewed a $30 million-plus CDBG-DR budget amendment for French Broad and Azalea Park projects, more than $1 million for Helene repairs at Riverside Cemetery and Montford Tennis Complex, and a $96,000 NCDOT greenway grant with a $24,000 city match.

At a lengthy work session, council reviewed the MBR plant's limited operations, heard the public works director say current staffing keeps the plant in a "treading water" state, and directed legal review of a draft RFP seeking an operating contractor to bring the plant to full operation.

County EMA director Powell told commissioners a joint FEMA/state preliminary damage assessment found about 40 structures damaged, roughly 20 major and five destroyed; the county moved to place a local emergency proclamation on the agenda to support a statewide request for federal assistance.

Sharon Sandoval, chief of staff to the Navajo Nation president, said about 200 people were evacuated, 150+ are in shelters and roughly 500 homes have been assessed as damaged after flooding around Shiprock; damage assessments and long-term infrastructure needs are now priorities.

State and local officials credited FDOT, National Guard and State Guard with opening state roads within 24 hours after landfall and reported ongoing debris removal to restore access and school bus routes.

The HRC approved a multi‑street infrastructure recovery project for Biltmore Village — funded by a roughly $2.49M Department of Commerce Helene recovery grant and supplemented by partial TDA funding — to reset brick sidewalks, restore granite curbs, upgrade ADA ramps and replace unhealthy trees; construction is planned to start in early 2027.

Officials said the state prepositioned military and maritime assets — including 400 soldiers, state-guard aircraft and 20 maritime vessels — and preauthorized 242 disaster debris management sites to speed cleanup after the storm.

The county board unanimously approved recommended CDBG-DR infrastructure awards to six municipalities, including $15.2 million for Bradenton and $3.62 million for Palmetto, authorizing staff to execute subrecipient agreements and begin project implementation.

Story County's emergency management briefed the board that a presidential disaster declaration (public assistance only) followed July 4 flooding, with a $1.7M preliminary county infrastructure damage estimate and $12M estimated residential damage; state individual assistance programs and SBA loans are supporting recovery.

Council and staff described large volunteer sandbagging efforts that protected key assets, reported FEMA damage estimates trimmed from $5.5M to about $4.2M, and said the town will seek reimbursement while planning repairs to a compromised seawall and pond levy.

Following an August extreme-rain event that flooded basements, council ratified a disaster declaration to enable county/state/federal assistance; residents described property damage and asked the borough to pursue answers and claims with contractors and conservation authorities.

Commissioners ratified a local disaster emergency declaration for an Aug. 22 Category 1 tornado that caused infrastructure and tree damage in Madera and Decatur Township, enabling potential state and federal assistance.

Public Works department head James reported on reconstruction after a tornado, including completed laterals on 3rd Street, proposed patch repairs, work on Racine & 1st signals and a delayed municipal-code revision tied to sewer and flooding assessments.

Emergency Management documented storm damage in April and again in August; the Board declared local disasters on both occasions, enabling emergency spending and state assistance requests.

County staff said more than $140 million in county infrastructure damage was assessed after 2023 flooding and that roughly $42 million across 37 projects remains unpaid; the board approved a letter requesting federal intervention and clarity on FEMA review timelines.

County staff outlined 'Lasting Manatee,' the HUD-funded recovery program: about $125 million is targeting infrastructure projects, pre-applications open June 1, full applications start July 1 and municipalities will prioritize projects in October.

Community leaders emphasize preserving quality of life while facing reconstruction obstacles post-hurricanes.

City officials reported roughly 90% utility restoration in the Menasha service area, the library reopened and has served 3,000+ people for shelter and internet access, while some parks remain closed pending structural and playground inspections.