RALEIGH, N.C. — On Monday, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein urged state lawmakers to significantly increase their funding for recovery efforts related to Hurricane Helene. He cautioned that delaying action could lead to further business closures, setbacks in housing development, and educational challenges for students.
During a conference held in a mountainous area affected by severe flooding, the newly installed Democratic governor emphasized the urgency of his funding request amounting to $1.07 billion. He expressed the desire for this funding to be approved promptly by the Republican-majority General Assembly, rather than postponing it until the new two-year budget begins in July.
At a food bank in Mills River, located approximately 260 miles west of Raleigh, Stein stressed the dire need for funds in the first part of the year to help individuals regain stability in their lives. He warned that inaction could result in businesses closing their doors by summer and a lost building season before winter weather sets in again. “This funding is a high priority,” he stated.
The majority of his funding proposal aims to assist struggling businesses, repair and rebuild housing, manage farm debris cleanup, restore private roads and bridges, and offset lost revenues for local governments. Additionally, support for summer schooling has been included for districts that experienced at least 15 instructional days lost following the hurricane’s impact last September.
Stein articulated, “We can ensure that our students are set up for long-term academic success. All these components are essential in fostering a safer, stronger, and more resilient western North Carolina, and they are needed now.”
Previously, the state legislature allocated over $900 million for relief and rebuilding initiatives in the fall and set aside several hundred million more for future recovery efforts. Newly appointed House Speaker Destin Hall has indicated that advancing this bipartisan funding bill for Hurricane Helene is a significant legislative priority.
This proposed funding package could serve as an initial challenge for Governor Stein, who was inaugurated last month, as he seeks to collaborate with Hall and Senate leader Phil Berger. Although Republicans maintain control over both legislative chambers, they are short of the numbers needed for a veto-proof majority.
GOP Representative Jake Johnson from Polk County, who participated in a bipartisan advisory committee concerning Hurricane Helene, expressed optimism during the conference. “We will begin reviewing the governor’s budget proposal and determining how we can allocate these funds to those in need,” Johnson remarked.
A spokesperson for Berger indicated that the Senate is currently evaluating Stein’s monetary proposal and plans to deliberate on Helene-related legislation in the near future. They acknowledged that even with the existing recovery funds, “there is still more we can do.”
State officials in North Carolina have reported over 100 fatalities as a result of Hurricane Helene, with around 74,000 homes and thousands of miles of state and private roads suffering damage. The state budget office estimates that the hurricane resulted in record damages and recovery requirements totaling $59.6 billion. Federal legislation passed in December and other federal measures are expected to contribute over $15 billion for the state’s rebuilding efforts.
Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26 in Florida’s Big Bend area, causing widespread disruption throughout the Southeastern U.S. Officials have cautioned that the recovery from the extensive destruction of homes and properties will be a prolonged and challenging endeavor.
Stein’s request for funds highlights the urgency of utilizing money currently held in two reserves. He is advocating for $150 million to launch a home reconstruction, repair, and buyout program aimed at commencing immediate repair work, waiting for federal housing assistance distribution, which may take a year. This state program is projected to help at least 225 of the estimated 5,100 homes needing repairs.
Moreover, Stein is seeking $150 million for two business grant initiatives, intended to provide up to $75,000 to enterprises affected by significant sales loss and physical damages. “For small businesses already facing challenges, acquiring more debt is simply not the solution,” he stated.
Last week, Tennessee legislators passed a $470 million aid package proposed by Governor Bill Lee designed to support communities in northeastern Tennessee impacted by Hurricane Helene. This legislation will assist local governments in covering interest on loans for recovery costs, support agricultural and business revitalization efforts, offer disaster-related unemployment aid, and fund the rebuilding of a severely damaged high school.
