Heavy rainfall may soon be more manageable in the heart of North Carolina’s wettest county after the city of Brevard committed federal pandemic recovery funds to updating stormwater infrastructure.

Each year, copious amounts of rain saturate the ground of Brevard, which sits near the center of Transylvania County. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, roughly 413 inches of rain fell in Transylvania County from January 2017 to December 2021, making it the wettest county in the state for that period.

Recognizing the challenges that such intense rainfall poses for potential flooding and water damage, the Brevard City Council designated $670,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act funding toward enhancing the city’s stormwater infrastructure, Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof said.