ASHEVILLE, N.C. — On Thursday, newly inaugurated North Carolina Governor Josh Stein took significant steps towards facilitating recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, targeting immediate needs for temporary housing and the restoration of private infrastructure like bridges and roads.
Sworn in just a day before, Stein, joined by bipartisan legislative leaders and officials in Asheville, detailed five executive orders aimed at addressing the extensive flooding caused by the hurricane, which had devastating effects in western North Carolina late last month.
“The challenges in this region are considerable and demand our urgent attention,” Stein conveyed during a press briefing. “As your governor, I commit to doing all I can to expedite recovery efforts and rebuild a region that is more resilient for the future.”
The toll of Hurricane Helene was severe, with over 100 lives lost and damage estimates soaring to an unprecedented $59.6 billion. To assist in the recovery, both federal and state governments have allocated billions, with Congress designating an additional $9 billion in aid last month. Nonetheless, Stein emphasized that additional action is essential this winter to ensure that displaced individuals have access to warm and secure housing on their properties, and to restore crucial transportation networks for small communities, first responders, and school buses.
One of the executive orders permits the North Carolina Department of Public Safety to acquire as many as 1,000 temporary housing units by the end of next month, bypassing the standard state procurement processes. The costs of these units will be covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is also deploying similar temporary trailers independently, Stein noted.
In another directive, Stein granted the Division of Emergency Management the authority to engage repair contractors for private roads and bridges without mandatory procurement rules. Additionally, environmental regulations will be loosened to facilitate faster permitting and inspection processes.
According to Stein’s orders, over 12,000 residents in western North Carolina have been displaced due to the hurricane, which has significantly impacted more than 8,000 private roads and bridges. “In my discussions with those affected here in the mountains, the urgent need for housing support and the repair of private infrastructure came up time and again,” he stated. “To the people of western North Carolina, I want you to know that your voices are being heard.”
Another order from Stein established a new Governor’s Recovery Office dedicated to Western North Carolina, along with a Division of Community Revitalization within the Commerce Department, tasked with managing the rebuilding of homes lost or damaged due to Helene.
The North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency, which was formed during the previous administration, will continue to focus on rebuilding homes affected by Hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018 in the eastern part of the state. Stein acknowledged some frustration expressed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly regarding the agency’s performance and the budget shortfalls affecting current housing initiatives.
Additionally, Stein has mandated that many state employees receive increased paid leave this year to assist with recovery efforts related to Helene, while also maintaining a recovery advisory committee that he established following his election win.
Republican State Senator Kevin Corbin, who co-chairs the advisory group alongside Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, referred to Stein’s measures as “bipartisan commonsense solutions.” New State Auditor Dave Boliek, also a Republican, later indicated that his office would ensure accountability regarding the expenditure of funds related to these initiatives. “Given previous shortcomings in delivering hurricane relief to Eastern North Carolina, it is crucial that our office steps in to safeguard the interests of Hurricane Helene victims,” Boliek stated.
