(The Center Square) – Leadership for recovery from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, heading into the 16th week, has six new faces representing the governor’s office and a 44-member committee appointed in the House of Representatives.
Gov. Josh Stein filled positions he created in the Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, also known as GROW NC, and the Division of Community Revitalization within the state Department of Commerce. House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, established the Select Committee on Helene Recovery.
Helene killed 104 in North Carolina and 233 across seven states. The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Dekle Beach, Fla., on Sept. 26. It dissipated over the mountains of the state and Tennessee, dropping more than 30 inches in some places and over 24 consistently across more.
The estimated damage is more than $53 billion, according to a report from former Gov. Roy Cooper. Federal government help so far has been about $9 billion from a $110 billion package signed in December by President Joe Biden, plus FEMA assistance. State government help has included more than $1.1 billion in appropriation from three legislative packages, with more expected.
At GROW NC, Matt Calabria will be director; Emily Williamson Gangi, chief deputy director; and Eliza Edwards, director of community partnerships. In the Commerce Department, Stephanie McGarrah will be deputy secretary of Community Revitalization. Holly Jones will be director in Stein’s western North Carolina office, and Jonathan Krebs will be a recovery advisor to the governor.
Reps. John Bell, R-Wayne, and Dudley Greene, R-Avery, will be co-chairmen of the new House committee. Appointed to vice-chairmanships were Reps. Jennifer Balkcom, R-Henderson; Mike Clampitt, R-Swain; Karl Gillespie, R-Macon; Jake Johnson, R-Polk; Ray Pickett, R-Watauga; and Mark Pless, R-Haywood.
The other members include Reps. Jay Adams, R-Catawba; Eric Ager, D- Buncombe; Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Allen Buansi, D-Orange; Laura Budd, D-Mecklenburg; Carla Cunningham, D-Mecklenburg; Allison Dahle, D-Wake; Jimmy Dixon, R-Duplin; Blair Eddins, R-Wilkes.
Also, Reps. Kyle Hall, R-Stokes; Kelly Hastings, R-Gaston; Frank Iler, R-Brunswick; Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort; Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth; Donnie Loftis, R-Gaston; Carolyn Logan, D-Mecklenburg; Jeff McNeely, R-Iredell; Charles Miller, R-Brunswick.
Also, Erin Pare, R-Wake; Howard Penny, R-Harnett; Garland Pierce, D-Scotland; Lindsey Prather, D-Buncombe; Reece Pyrtle, R-Rockingham; James Roberson, D-Wake; Stephen Ross, R-Alamance; Paul Scott, R-Rutherford; Mitchell Setzer, R-Catawba.
Also, Reps. Phil Shepard, R-Onslow; Sarah Stevens, R-Surry; Larry Strickland, R-Johnston; John Torbett, R-Gaston; Brian Turner, D-Buncombe; Steve Tyson, R-Craven; Harry Warren, R-Rowan; Shelly Willingham, D-Edgecombe; and David Willis, R-Union.
While comparison is not apples to apples, Helene is arguably the worst natural disaster in state history. Hurricanes Floyd in 1999 and Hazel in 1954 have their place for the eastern part of the state, as does Asheville’s Great Flood of 1916 in the western half.