(The Center Square) – Recovery funds to people and entities in western North Carolina from the General Assembly exceed $1.4 billion total following Gov. Josh Stein’s signing Thursday of a fourth bill for $524 million responding to Hurricane Helene.
This legislation also included more help for eastern North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018. Lawmakers appropriated $217 million their way.
“Since Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, the General Assembly has come together to address real-time needs of our citizens,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, R-Rockingham. “This bill will make a world of difference for the people of western North Carolina and I’m proud to see it become law. I look forward to continuing our efforts to support western North Carolina as it recovers and rebuilds.”
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein called the legislation, the first he’s signed, a promising step forward.
“But we are nowhere near done,” Stein said. “I will keep pushing to ensure western North Carolina is not forgotten.”
Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, said it won’t be the last from the House of Representatives and lawmakers on Jones Street.
This is the 25th 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.
Within the legislation known as Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1, or House Bill 47, is $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.
Congress approved in December about $9 billion of a $110 billion package to the state. This does not include FEMA money, projected in the billions of dollars. The total is expected to help block development programs; farmers; infrastructure to include roads, highways and bridges; and drinking water infrastructure.
FEMA, in a release Wednesday, said its assistance has eclipsed $10 million.
