Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act

This bill, titled the "Restoring Access to Mountain Homes Act," expands eligibility for federal reimbursement under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. It specifically allows State, Indian Tribal, and local governments in North Carolina to receive funding for the repair, replacement, or restoration of private roads and bridges damaged by Tropical Storm Helene , identified under major disaster declaration FEMA-4827-DR-NC. To qualify, these private roads and bridges must serve as the sole means of access to primary residences or essential community services and have been significantly damaged or destroyed directly by the storm. Reimbursement is not subject to pre-existing conditions, but the work must not duplicate already completed repairs. Several conditions apply to reimbursement, including mandatory inspections by government officials to verify scope and cost-effectiveness, and ensuring the repaired roads or bridges remain open for disaster recovery activities. Governments must also document all costs and obtain necessary authority to perform permanent repair work, ensuring compliance with all applicable State and Federal regulations. The bill also addresses the duplication of benefits , allowing individuals who previously received assistance for these repairs to either proceed with that aid or return it to qualify under this new provision. Importantly, any prior assistance received for these specific private road or bridge repairs will not count against an individual's maximum assistance limits under Section 408 of the Stafford Act. Eligible costs will be determined based on certified estimates from professionally licensed engineers, presumed reasonable unless fraud is evident.