In Raleigh, North Carolina, state legislators have agreed to allocate an additional $524 million to tackle ongoing recovery efforts from the historic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene nearly six months ago. This funding prioritizes the repair of homes, private roads, agriculture, and infrastructure crucial for businesses.
House and Senate Republicans harmonized their differences after examining various versions of a proposed bill, ultimately approving a compromise that also sets aside $327 million for recovery efforts from previous storms and enduring disasters not associated with Helene.
Governor Josh Stein, a Democrat, endorsed the bill during a Wednesday evening ceremony, marking his first signed bill as governor. In a recent State of the State address, Gov. Stein expressed readiness to enact a relief measure.
The governor had initially requested an additional $1.07 billion for Helene-related relief efforts in the mountains last month. However, the final bill omits some programs and underfunds certain requests as legislators opted for a more cautious fiscal path. Both Gov. Stein and lawmakers anticipate supplementary Helene relief appropriations will be required in the coming months.
“Today’s legislation is a crucial next step, not our final one,” noted GOP Senator Ralph Hise of Mitchell County during Wednesday’s Senate debate. The Senate approved the bill unanimously.
Gov. Stein’s office acknowledged that, prior to this recent measure, over $1.1 billion had already been allocated or made available for Helene recovery efforts.
Despite this, the financial resources fall short relative to the estimated $59.6 billion in damages and essential recovery reported by state officials, alongside 100+ deaths attributed to the late September storm. Stein’s administration estimates that federal funds, including December’s congressional disaster relief, could bring over $15 billion to North Carolina’s Helene recovery pot. Additionally, Stein is pursuing another $13 billion from federal sources.
Data indicates around 4,600 households in the western counties remain dependent on temporary housing aid as of last week, with over 200 public roads still partially or entirely closed.
From the new allocation, $100 million targets the repair or replacement of private roads and bridges which enable community access to essential services. Meanwhile, $120 million will bolster a home reconstruction and repair initiative as the state gears up to secure nearly $1.4 billion in federal aid for related projects.
The bill sets aside $200 million to address Helene-related agricultural setbacks such as crop losses and debris clearance. Additionally, over $110 million compensates for agricultural losses from other storm or drought-related damage sustained in 2024.
An additional $217 million is earmarked to complete nearly 1,000 pending re-construction projects for homes affected by Hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018. Delays and cost overruns have plagued these projects historically.
“Families who have waited far too long will finally get the relief they deserve,” said House Majority Leader Brenden Jones following Tuesday’s House vote. “With strict oversight to ensure every dollar is used properly — we are finishing the job once and for all.”
The bill also designates $9 million for a voluntary summer school program benefiting students from districts closed for extended periods due to Helene. Despite being less than originally requested by Stein, this funding will assist in remedial education.
Efforts to secure two business grant programs designed to aid enterprises suffering economic and physical losses from Helene were omitted from the final bill. Instead, Republican lawmakers allocated $55 million for local government grants. These funds may then be directed towards infrastructure improvements that will indirectly benefit businesses, such as repairing utilities, sewers, and sidewalks.
The proposal’s overall agreement shifted slightly as officials confirmed a $524 million commitment rather than the initially reported $528 million.