(The Center Square) – Fiscal assistance requests for Hurricane Helene recovery in North Carolina got an extra voice in the Beltway as the nation’s governors met last week.
Amid the distraction of a back-and-forth between President Donald Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Democratic North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein chatted Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd making a request for $19 billion. It’s less than half of the $40 billion California Gov. Gavin Newsom requested while in town.
“Hurricane Helene destroyed so much across western North Carolina – lives, homes, businesses, farms, and infrastructure – and our state is facing nearly $60 billion in damages,” Stein said in a statement. “Despite a focused response from federal, state, local, and private sector and nonprofit partners in the immediate aftermath, five months later, it is clear that much more help is needed to restore and rebuild western North Carolina.”
This is the 21st week of recovery. Congress has already sent about $9 billion of a $110 billion package to the state. Approval was given in December.
The House Select Committee on Helene Recovery in the General Assembly is pursuing a bill with about $500 million in relief. If it comes to fruition, it would be the fourth installment provided by the Legislature.
In the earlier packages, the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 passed Oct. 9. The $273 million package was mostly to different state agencies and local governments which can 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 is 132 pages, the first 13 of which are related to Helene and the remainder for the “various law changes” that include shifting authorities from elected offices. The latter was the sticking point.
The federal assistance from December does not include FEMA money, projected in the billions of dollars. The $9 billion is expected to help block development programs; farmers; infrastructure to include roads, highways and bridges; and drinking water infrastructure.
“With continued commitment of the federal and state governments,” Stein said, “we will enable the people of western North Carolina to come back stronger than ever before.”