In Raleigh, North Carolina, the state House has given its unanimous approval to allocate an additional $500 million for ongoing recovery efforts following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. This new funding aims to build on the resources the Republican-controlled General Assembly had apportioned in late 2024 for disaster recovery after the catastrophic floods hit the mountainous regions in September.
Governor Josh Stein, who assumed office in January as a Democrat, had previously urged legislators to approve over double this amount—$1.07 billion. He emphasized the urgency, highlighting that businesses and residents displaced by the flood, along with public school students, require immediate assistance, rather than waiting for the regular state budget talks scheduled to conclude by early summer.
While Republican lawmakers concur on the need for swift fund allocation, they stress the importance of maximizing federal matching funds and avoiding previous pitfalls in disaster response. Both sides anticipate further approval of Helene aid in the coming months. During a floor debate, Rep. Dudley Greene of Avery County, whose property sustained damage from Helene, remarked, “We all hope that that money will start flowing soon, but I fully expect that this won’t be the last. Western North Carolina will appreciate your vote for this important next step.”
The state legislature has already sanctioned between $900 million and $1.1 billion for Helene recovery efforts, depending on various calculations. The newly earmarked $225 million for disaster aid is set to bolster the current measure before it advances to the Senate, where GOP legislators have additional spending proposals. This legislation serves as an early test between the legislature and Governor Stein, as Republican lawmakers missed securing a veto-proof majority by just one vote in last November’s elections.
Hurricane Helene resulted in more than 100 fatalities and damaged 74,000 homes, significantly impacting roads, bridges, and culverts. State officials estimated the storm’s destruction to be $59.6 billion in damages and recovery expenses. The current House bill prioritizes repairs for damaged homes and infrastructure and provides assistance to farmers and business infrastructures. However, it does not include Governor Stein’s proposed funds to compensate local governments for revenue losses and establish a direct payout program to small businesses affected by Helene.
In response, House Republicans introduced and passed an amendment to allocate $15 million to nonprofit organizations offering grants to revitalize small businesses. The amendment also allows local governments participating in an existing state loan recovery program to retain their proceeds without repayment. Despite these adjustments, Democrats from the flood-hit regions remain concerned that federal funds might not suffice and that aid could arrive too late. Thousands of residents are still in temporary housing or receiving rental assistance, and many tourism-dependent businesses must decide whether they can endure.
Buncombe County’s state Rep. Lindsey Prather noted, “I understand that there is more to come and I’m grateful for that. But we are five months out from this storm. We’ve got to move quicker and we’ve got to spend more.” Governor Stein’s administration projects that federal support and other sources could eventually bring over $15 billion for Helene recovery in North Carolina. Last week, Stein also announced an additional request for $13.1 billion from Washington.
Furthermore, the House plans to debate another measure, which proposes extracting $475 million from state reserves to establish a crop loss program addressing disasters occurring in 2024. The House has also given initial approval to a bill that would increase the state’s maximum regular unemployment benefit from $350 to $450 per week. Alongside, it would cancel a former executive order by Gov. Roy Cooper, which temporarily raised the weekly unemployment benefit cap to $600. This change was necessary since federal law extended the elevated benefits to workers throughout the state, not just those impacted by Hurricane Helene. This bill will soon be presented to the Senate.
