Today, Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02), Alma Adams (NC-12), Don Davis (NC-01), Wiley Nickel (NC-13), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), and Kathy Manning (NC-06) urged House leaders to include $25.57 billion in federal disaster relief for North Carolina in upcoming disaster supplemental funding legislation to fully meet Governor Roy Cooper’s request for federal aid. These resources are critical for addressing the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.
The requested funding would address critical needs, including rebuilding infrastructure, providing housing assistance, and supporting small businesses and agricultural communities that were decimated by the storm. It would also help mitigate the long-term economic and environmental impacts of the disaster.
The lawmakers wrote, “Hurricane Helene was the most devastating storm in our state’s history, resulting in the deaths of over 100 North Carolinians and causing a staggering $53.6 billion in total damage and needs in our state alone, according to the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management. The total rainfall from Hurricane Helene exceeded 30 inches in some parts of our state and more than 4.6 million North Carolinians currently reside in counties designated by FEMA for disaster assistance. The intensity and duration of the storm combined with Western North Carolina’s unique geography led to widespread, catastrophic destruction and will pose exceptional challenges to a recovery that will take years if not decades.”
Specifically, consistent with the needs identified by Governor Cooper, the lawmakers are requesting funding for:
- Repairs and rebuilding for over 150,000 damaged homes, along with temporary housing assistance for displaced residents.
- Restoration of major highways, access roads, bridges, and municipal water and sewer systems.
- Repairs to power grids and communication networks to restore critical services.
- Reconstruction of damaged schools, higher education institutions, hospitals, and childcare centers.
- Support for small businesses, agriculture, and tourism, including aid for over 20,000 farms and over 300,00 acres of damaged public land essential to the state’s economy.
Full text of the letter is available here.