(The Center Square) – More than $200 million for emergency protective measures in western North Carolina was released by FEMA on Thursday evening.
The work was performed by North Carolina Emergency Management during Hurricane Helene, including temporary facilities and the mobilization of base camps. Overall, the Department of Homeland Security led by Secretary Kristi Noem sent $2.2 billion for disaster relief throughout the country.
North Carolina’s share from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was the largest. More than 1,700 projects nationwide are impacted by the taxpayer assistance.
“This investment will repair and restore critical public infrastructure across the country, including schools, public safety facilities, utilities and community services,” Noem said. “American communities are rebuilding stronger, and today’s approvals show this Administration’s commitment to cutting red tape and getting recovery dollars out the door faster.”
The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Dekle Beach, Fla., on Sept. 26, 2024.
It was expected to come north to the Appalachian Mountains; however, the total rainfall from its dissipation there exceeded all forecasts. Some places got more than 30 inches, most were at 24 inches or more. Due to terrain, water often rushed before it pooled and flooded – very unlike the flooding from hurricanes that happens in the coastal plains.
This weekend begins the 71st week of recovery from the storm, arguably the state’s worst natural disaster in history. The storm killed 108 in the state, 237 in the South, and caused an estimated $60 billion to $80 billion in damage in North Carolina.
Progress is both incredible and crawling at a snail’s pace. Residents, their homes and the communities have overcome challenges. At the same time, more work is to be done in what is easily estimated as an overall minimum five-year recovery.
A congressional package of $110 billion passed in December 2024 included about $9 billion for the state. FEMA assistance grants and packages have eclipsed $1 billion.
Friday marked Day 214 without the General Assembly implementing the two-year state budget. Despite the law saying it happens on July 1, legislators are mainly haggling over the reduction of income taxes and the state employee raise amounts.
The lawmakers want to refill what has been taken from the rainy day fund, also known as the Savings Reserve in the General Fund. As of June 30, the close of the fiscal year 2025, the balance was $3.62 billion. The goal will be to add $1.104 billion – the amount appropriated for Helene recovery – in addition to more funding for Helene recovery.
In the interim, two pieces of legislation were signed in 2025 by first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein to spur relief.
The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part II pushes total relief from the Legislature above $2.1 billion in five different packages.
This package in the last week of June had $75 million for construction and reimbursement of privately owned roads and bridges; $70 million for local government capital repairs; and $64.3 million for repair and construction of damaged schools.
There was $51.5 million allocated for local government cash-flow loan program, with no interest; $25 million to help farmers with infrastructure losses; $25 million to upgrade and enhance regional airports to support disaster responses; $18 million for fire stations and rescue squads in western North Carolina; and $15 million for a Selectsite fund to help economic development.
Within the legislation known as Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part I, the first bill Stein signed as governor in March, was $200 million to Helene-specific crop-loss and farm restoration; $120 million for rebuilding and repairing homes; and $100 million for repairing private roads and bridges.
There was also appropriation for small business infrastructure grants; debris removal; volunteer organizations deemed essential; volunteer fire departments; learning recovery for students; and travel and tourism marketing.
