2 Years After Helene: NC DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson Breaks Down Recovery [Ep. 600]

Two years after Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, NC Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) Secretary Reid Wilson joins the Carolina Weather Group for a special landmark 600th episode. Secretary Wilson sits down with James Brierton, Sam Walker, and Greg Fishel to discuss the state of recovery across the mountains, funding distribution for water infrastructure, private property debris cleanup, landslide mapping, dam safety, microgrids, and the future of early warning systems. Plus, the panel discusses coastal resiliency efforts, beach erosion in Buxton, and flood mitigation strategies across North Carolina river basins.This interview was available early to our YouTube Members and Patreon Supporters. Consider joining today to help support the Carolina Weather Group!📹 Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmhGiYbMDccQcdSjpf87nGg/join🧢 MERCH: https://carolinaweathergroup.qbstores.com/💸 LEAVE A TIP: https://streamelements.com/carolinawxgroup/tip🎙️ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather🔔 SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/carolinaweathergroup💻 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://carolinaweathergroup.comCHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction & Episode 600 Milestone00:35 - 2 Years Post-Helene: State of Recovery & Water Infrastructure Funding02:45 - Bat Cave Cleanup & $18M EPA Private Property Debris Grants05:48 - Landslide Mapping & Restricted Infrastructure Funding07:10 - Landslide Early Warning Systems & WNC Cell Coverage Challenges09:35 - Deployment of Solar & Battery Powered Microgrids in WNC10:55 - What Resiliency Means & The Flood Resiliency Blueprint13:35 - French Broad River Basin Projects & Uniqueness of Hurricane Helene15:40 - High-Hazard Dam Safety, Inspections & Lake Lure/Lake Adger Updates18:30 - Coastal Resiliency & $16M+ Coastal Community Grants (New Bern, Nags Head, Duck)20:45 - Buxton & Outer Banks Beach Erosion, Home Collapses & Coastal Regulations24:38 - Heavy Rainfall Threats in Southeast NC (PTC 8 & Brunswick County Growth)26:52 - Closing Remarks & DEQ Partnership with Local Communities#HurricaneHelene #NorthCarolina #NCDEQ #NCWX #CarolinaWeatherGroup #Resilience #Landslides #DamSafety #OuterBanks