(The Center Square) – North Carolina lawmakers are considering a $450 million spending package for Hurricane Helene recovery that would push General Assembly appropriations to $1.85 billion.
Money matching federal recovery programs would account for $70 million. Another $60 million is designated for small business disaster grants, and $50 million for local governments in order to fulfill unmet and unreimbursed capital needs.
The General Assembly passed three packages last year and another this spring. A congressional package of $110 billion passed in December included about $9 billion for the state. FEMA assistance has eclipsed $10 million.
The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part II, announced Wednesday morning by Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, comes two days after Democratic Gov. Josh Stein asked the General Assembly for $891 million.
This is the 34th week of recovery from Helene. The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Dekle Beach, Fla., on Sept. 26. It was expected to come north to the Appalachian Mountains; however, the rainfall total 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 that happens in the coastal plains.
The storm left 107 dead in North Carolina and 236 across seven states. Estimated damage was $60 billion in the Tarheel State.
The proposal has $30 million each for supporting reconstruction of private roads and bridges, and agricultural and general debris removal. Schools, airport infrastructure, flood mitigation, volunteer organizations, fire stations and emergency medical services units, and the North Carolina Forest Service are also slated for aid in the package.
Within the legislation known as Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1, or House Bill 47, was $200 million to Helene-specific crop-loss and farm restoration; $120 million for rebuilding and repairing home; and $100 million for repairing private roads and bridges.
There’s also money for small business infrastructure grants; debris removal; volunteer organizations deemed essential; volunteer fire departments; learning recovery for students; and travel and tourism marketing.
In the earlier packages by the Legislature, the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 passed Oct. 9. The $273 million package was mostly to different state agencies and local governments which could then use the money to help those most affected. It included $250 million for the state and local match of federal disaster assistance programs; $16 million for the Department of Public Instruction for school nutrition employee compensation; $5 million for the State Board of Elections Administration changes; and $2 million to the Office of State Budget and Management for grants.
The bill also included assistance in education; agriculture and environmental quality; transportation; retirements; taxes; the Department of Health and Human Services; and some election-related changes.
The Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 – Part II was passed Oct. 24. This legislation provided more than $877 million toward relief from Helene, and another $40 million for four storms. The largest portions were $100 million to the Local Government Commission, $100 million to the Department of Environmental Quality, and $75 million for state and local match of federal disaster assistance programs.
The third package, Disaster Relief-3/Budget/Various Law Changes, required a veto override to get through and has since been litigated. The legislation was 132 pages, the first 13 of which were related to Helene and the remainder for the “various law changes” that include shifting authorities from elected offices. The latter was the sticking point.
