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Disaster Recovery

Hurricane Preparedness: Resources Available for County Outreach

With the 2026 hurricane season approaching, June 1 through November 30, the North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) has provided templates and graphics to support county outreach — please share these with staff, and local partners. Use these templates to encourage county residents to review emergency plans, update supply kits, and stay informed. Early forecasts predict 12-15 named storms, 6-9 hurricanes, and 2-3 major hurricanes, with a 54% chance of storm activity affecting North Carolina. For more information, visit ReadyNC.org. These county-specific resources (blog post, news release, proclamation, toolkit) are also available through NCEM. For questions or assistance related to disaster recovery, please contact us at [email protected].

The NCACC Disaster Recovery Technical Assistance Team provides hands-on, no-cost support to North Carolina counties navigating disaster response and long-term recovery.

The NCACC Disaster Recovery Technical Assistance Team (DR-TA) was initially established in 2024 through state appropriations to assist counties with recovery from Tropical Storm Helene. The DR-TA team consists of subject matter experts, who specialize in various functional areas of disaster recovery, including long-term recovery, emergency management, disaster finance, disaster recovery policy and programs, outreach, grant management and compliance, community development, legal, communications, and more.

The team provides counties with hands-on assistance, education and training, and a supportive hub to coordinate with state and federal recovery partners. This unique model of technical assistance is designed to harness decades of institutional knowledge from trusted experts.

From initial response to long-term recovery, NCACC’s DR-TA team offers a wide range of technical assistance services and has supported counties in securing FEMA reimbursements, accelerating housing solutions for survivors, assisting with project development for programs funded by North Carolina’s $1.4 billion federal appropriation of Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, and strengthening long-term recovery capacity and resilience.

In addition, the team helps counties identify and apply for federal, state, and other funding sources to expedite recovery efforts. All services are provided free of charge to Helene-impacted North Carolina counties. To request a consultation or learn more about our services, email the team at [email protected].

CDBG-DR Prescreening

Renew NC is offering prescreenings to help local governments and nonprofits prepare for the upcoming Commercial District Revitalization and Community Infrastructure programs. Click here to learn more about the CDBG-DR prescreening opportunity.

Services

Our services include (but are not limited to) assistance in the following areas: 

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Capacity Building & Technical Assistance

  • Capacity assistance and on-site consulting
  • Assessment of post-disaster needs and capacity gaps
  • Training programs, educational tools, templates, and resources for housing recovery
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Education, Training, & Intergovernmental Coordination

  • Facilitate regular coordination with state and federal partners
  • Offer virtual and in-person educational opportunities and training
  • Communications assistance

Planning & Recovery Strategy

  • Identification of disaster recovery funding sources
  • Needs assessments
  • Planning and implementing of CDBG-DR projects
  • Policy analysis
  • Recovery strategies and mutual aid agreements

Financial Management & Compliance

  • Cash flow analysis and credit ratings
  • Cost tracking, FEMA reimbursement reconciliation, and audit preparation
  • Financial policies and procedures
  • Federal cross-cutting requirements
  • Grant administration, monitoring, and regulatory compliance
  • Monitoring
  • Troubleshooting regulatory and audit issues

NCACC Disaster Recovery Technical Assistance Team

Andreu Sutterby

Technical Assistance Program Manager

(919) 719-1103
(919) 719-1103 Details

Andreu Sutterby

Andreu Sutterby is a Technical Assistance Program Manager at NCACC, supporting the continuation and expansion of technical assistance offerings within the Strategic Member Services Department. He provides comprehensive and collaborative outreach, educational programming, and technical assistance in support of North Carolina counties as they implement COVID-19 pandemic and disaster recovery projects.
(919) 719-1103

Dee Taylor

Community Development Associate
Details

Dee Taylor

Dee Taylor is an experienced local government professional with more than 25 years of service. She retired from Cumberland County government in 2024 after serving as director of community development, where she oversaw federally and state-funded initiatives supporting housing and community development. Dee has extensive experience administering and monitoring federal grant programs, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), CDBG–Disaster Recovery, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and Continuum of Care programs. Dee is a knowledgeable resource on federal housing compliance, affordable housing development, and homelessness policy. In 2025, Dee joined the NCACC to support counties in navigating disaster recovery programs and implementing community development initiatives. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Arkansas State University and a Bachelor of Technology (interdisciplinary studies in business) from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Norma Houston

Disaster Recovery Advisor
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Norma Houston

Norma Houston is a highly respected leader in public law and emergency management with more than 30 years of public service. Houston is widely regarded as a trusted resource for local officials on emergency management authorities, FEMA compliance, and public procurement. She previously served as a lecturer at the UNC School of Government and adjunct professor at the UNC School of Law.

David Clawson

Disaster Recovery Finance Associate
Details

David Clawson

David retired from Dare County in 2025 as CFO and deputy county manager. He was the county’s FEMA–designated agent for over 30 years, in charge of recovery from disasters including Floyd, Isabel, Irene, Florence, Dorian, and Covid-19. David also served as project manager for construction and beach renourishment projects. He is a past president of the North Carolina County Finance Officers Association and served on the GFOA’s Special Review Committee for 16 years, grading and evaluating audit reports for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report certificate program. He is a CPA (inactive) and a part-time employee of the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer’s Fiscal Management Section.

Michael N. Johnson

Community Development Associate

(919) 715-0289
(919) 715-0289 Details

Michael N. Johnson

Michael N. Johnson is a highly skilled and forward-thinking CDBG-DR subject-matter expert with experience in disaster recovery, environmental and land use planning, and housing policy. His career spans over 25 years at the federal and local levels of government, including service as an environmental planner with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, a city planner with the City of Henderson (NV), and a senior Community Planning & Development representative with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. He has led interdisciplinary teams, authored numerous NEPA environmental reviews, and served as a lecturer for the UNC School of Government’s Community Development Academy. 
(919) 715-0289

Sara Scheirer

Long-Term Disaster Recovery Associate

(919) 715-4364
(919) 715-4364 Details

Sara Scheirer

Sara Scheirer serves as a Long-Term Disaster Recovery Associate, supporting counties as they navigate the complex process of rebuilding after disasters. She brings experience from previous county government roles focused on disaster recovery, community development, and federal grant management, as well as experience working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Her work includes recovery planning, program and project implementation, and coordination across jurisdictions to advance recovery priorities. Sara also works with counties to identify and pursue a wide range of funding and partnership opportunities, including state, federal, nonprofit, philanthropic, and private sector resources that help address unmet recovery needs. She currently serves on the board of directors for her local Long –Term Recovery Group.
(919) 715-4364

Attendees participate in a 100 Counties Prepared training session led by NCACC staff.

A roadside sign in Western North Carolina promotes an upcoming film screening of the NCACC documentary Rising Above Helene: Western North Carolina’s Journey to Recovery.

Discussions inside a FEMA disaster recovery center following Hurricane Helene in Hendersonville, N.C.

Hurricane Helene Memorial recently placed in front of the Yancey County Courthouse in Burnsville, N.C.

NCACC Disaster Recovery Technical Assistance Team members pictured during a film screening of the NCACC documentary Rising Above Helene: Western North Carolina’s Journey to Recovery.

Buncombe County Commissioner Terri Wells presents the NCACC documentary Rising Above Helene: Western North Carolina’s Journey to Recovery during a screening at the East Asheville Library.

County commissioners and NCACC staff members pictured during the Hurricane Helene Convening in April 2025.

A mural of the North Carolina flag featured in Western North Carolina.

Attendees participate in a 100 Counties Prepared training session led by NCACC staff.

Members of the NCACC Disaster Recovery Technical Assistance Team discuss recovery strategies during a CDBG-DR consultation with Buncombe County Disaster Recovery staff in January 2026.

NCACC staff members attend the 2026 NACo Legislative Conference in D.C.

During the districts 13, 14, and 15 meeting in Burke County in March 2026, NCACC Director of Disaster Recovery and Grant Assistance Lacy Pate shared a brief history of the Technical Assistance Team, outlined the services provided, and briefed commissioners on the latest updates from FEMA, including information about reimbursements.

A brief overview of CDBG-DR and the CDBG-DR prescreening tool was presented by NCACC Community Development Associate Dee Taylor during the districts 13, 14, and 15 meeting in Burke County in March 2026.

NCACC Executive Director Kevin Leonard speaks as districts 13, 14, and 15 meet in Burke County in March 2026 to share updates and keep counties connected and informed.

NCACC Disaster Recovery staff facilitating a CDBG-DR brainstorming session with Transylvania County, the City of Brevard, Land of Sky Regional Council, the UNC School of Government, GROW NC, and the North Carolina League of Municipalities.

County Recovery Support

We are here for North Carolina counties. For questions or assistance related to disaster recovery, please contact us at [email protected]. Please use this email for all disaster-related inquiries, requests, concerns, feedback, and event-related reports. Thank you for your continued partnership in the recovery process.