North Carolina wins lawsuit against FEMA, restores $200M for disaster mitigation projects

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina has won its lawsuit against FEMA, with a federal court ordering the agency to reinstate the BRIC disaster mitigation program.

Attorney General Jeff Jackson sued in July after FEMA abruptly canceled the program, stripping $200 million from more than 60 infrastructure projects across the state.

The court ruled that FEMA's action unlawfully encroached on Congress's authority to appropriate funds for disaster mitigation.

"We won this case because FEMA tried to take back $200 million that it had already designated for North Carolina," Attorney General Jeff Jackson said. "Our towns spent years doing everything FEMA asked them to do to qualify for this funding, and they were in the middle of building real protections against storms when FEMA suddenly broke its word. Keeping water systems working and keeping homes out of floodwater isn't politics - it's basic safety. This ruling puts the money back where it was promised so these communities can be ready for the next storm."

SEE ALSO: NC Attorney Gen. Jeff Jackson sues to protect $17M for first responders and natural disaster victims

Here are some other BRIC projects in NC:

• Salisbury was awarded $22.5 million to relocate its sewage along the Yadkin River to high ground
• Hillsborough was awarded nearly $7 million to relocate its pump station out of flood plain and expand its water and sewer capacity
• Gastonia was awarded $5.9 million to restore the banks of Duharts Creek and relocate sewer lines to prevent floodwater damage
• Mount Pleasant received over $4 million to improve stormwater damage and secure electrical wires
• Leland received $1.1 million to relocate the town's sewer system away from Sturgeon Creek