N.C. Forest Service - Disaster Mitigation Program

The new Disaster Mitigation Program (DMP) reduces heightened wildfire risk in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. The DMP accomplishes this by providing wildfire risk reduction treatments at no cost to eligible private and public landowners in 39 federally declared disaster counties, designated as of Dec. 18, 2024, under FEMA Disaster 4827: North Carolina Tropical Storm Helene. 

Risk reduction services available through the DMP include hazard reduction prescribed burning to reduce dangerous and excessive fuel loading, home ignition zone treatments to create defensible space around homes, and restoration to fuel breaks and roads for reopening access routes to improve wildfire response capabilities.

Eligibility and Key Rules

• Projects must be entirely or partially within the disaster-declared area.  
• Work may occur on private and public (state/local) lands. Federal ownership is not eligible.  
• To reduce substantial wildfire threats, focus is on damage within the immediate vicinity of homes and/or infrastructure.
• The DMP is not a cost‑share program. There is no cost to qualified landowners.  
• Interactions with Farm Bill programs, such as EQIP, WHIP, CSP and CRP, must be checked to avoid double paying for the same practice. “Double dipping” is not permitted.  
• Only one risk reduction action may be carried out on a single acre unless regional or state mitigation personnel provide written approval.  

For additional information, please visit: N.C. Forest Service | NC Agriculture