NC grant helps Johnston woman get new house after Matthew's floodwaters destroyed her old one

With no flood insurance, limited savings and no help from FEMA, Fletcher was in over her head until the state bailed her out.

"I can't believe this is my house!" she said to a recent visitor. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

State and local leaders rolled out the welcome mat for Fletcher, who has been staying with family and friends since Hurricane Matthew destroyed her home in Princeton in 2016.

She now has a brand new home that was paid for by a state disaster recovery grant.

"It's the greatest thing other than my children being born," she said.

Fletcher's three-bedroom home has two bathrooms, and it cost $140,000 to build the 1,500-square-foot home, she says.

The money to fund the new home construction came from a $20 million fund established by the General Assembly after Hurricane Matthew battered the state three years ago.

Those tax dollars have been used for buyouts, reconstruction and repairs not covered by insurance or FEMA.

Fletcher’s home even came fully furnished thanks to local donations.

County officials said they are pleased to see residents getting tangible help from the grant funds.

"To be able to see (Fletcher) in this home and see her whole again, it's just very satisfying," said Sandy Wood, emergency management coordinator for Johnston County.

As part of the rebuild project, crews raised Fletcher's home, so she hopefully won't have to worry about flooding from the Neuse River in the future.