(RALEIGH) Governor Josh Stein announced that he has hired six people who will play a key role in western North Carolina recovery efforts, including leaders of the newly-established Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) and the new Division of Community Revitalization (DCR) within the Department of Commerce.
A new audit of North Carolina’s Hurricane Florence relief fund found additional money that was spent without proper verification in the years after the 2018 storm.
On Tuesday, December 10th, a delegation of North Carolina House members representing Western North Carolina will travel to Capitol Hill this week to urge Congress and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take swift and decisive action to aid communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.
The devastation brought by Hurricane Helene to western North Carolina has left communities grappling with significant loss and upheaval. As we witness the aftermath, one thing is clear: the path to recovery will require time, commitment, and considerable resources.
Although our state’s economy has grown faster than the national average over the past decade, not everyone has fared well. Some regions and communities are struggling — a condition now worsened in parts of western North Carolina by Hurricane Helene.
When the North Carolina General Assembly voted unanimously on October 24 to appropriate another $604 million for disaster relief, Gov. Roy Cooper said it wasn’t enough.
Raleigh, NC – Today the NC House of Representatives approved SB 743, the "Disaster Recovery Act of 2024" in a unanimous vote.
Today, the North Carolina Senate passed a second Hurricane Helene relief package, allocating another $644 million for storm recovery. When combined with the first relief package, the General Assembly has provided over $877 million for Hurricane Helene relief and over $917 million in total disaster relief for Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Debby, Potential Tropical Cyclone 8, and the tornado that hit Nash County.
Less than a month after Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper today shared a state budget recommendation to help rebuild stronger to withstand future storms. Governor Cooper recommends an initial $3.9 billion package to begin rebuilding critical infrastructure, homes, businesses, schools, and farms damaged during the storm.
Governor Roy Cooper joined United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in Western North Carolina for a briefing on recovery efforts with federal officials and view damaged areas in Asheville and Canton. The Governor and Secretary Buttigieg also visited a damaged section of I-40.
The devastation wreaked on North Carolina by Hurricane Helene will take weeks to assess, months to clear out, and years to repair or rebuild. Second only to the value of the lives lost will be the exorbitant fiscal and economic costs of our recovery.
The impact of Hurricane Helene on western North Carolina is devastating. As I’ve traveled the western part of the state to visit with and hear from the people who were affected, at the same time I’ve been heartbroken by the loss, I’ve been inspired by their optimism and the many ways they are showing up for each other.
