The North Carolina House of Representatives has approved a $464 million funding package to assist with recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Helene, a sum that represents only a portion of Governor Josh Stein’s requested $891 million. The bill passed unanimously on May 22 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Despite its shortcomings compared to the governor’s request, the approved aid package includes significant support measures: $60 million is designated for grants to businesses that experienced economic losses exceeding $25,000 due to the storm, and $50 million is allocated for local governments to repair infrastructure. The majority of the funding will be sourced from the NCInnovation program, which has faced criticism from some GOP lawmakers.
Since Helene struck last September, resulting in over 100 fatalities, the North Carolina General Assembly, which is predominantly controlled by Republicans, has enacted four aid bills totaling more than $1.5 billion for recovery. However, a recent state report indicates that local and federal lawmakers have only provided a fraction of the nearly $60 billion necessary for complete recovery.
Funding specifics of the House bill include:
– $70 million for matching federal disaster assistance
– $25 million for agricultural infrastructure repair
– $15 million for streamflow rehabilitation and wildfire response
– $10 million for dams
– $7.5 million for state park repairs
– $33 million for repairing public schools
– $30 million for private roadway and bridge repairs
– $20 million for flood mitigation grants
– $20 million for recovery aid to volunteer organizations
– $6 million for infrastructure repairs at Western Carolina University, Appalachian State University, and UNC-Asheville
The continued efforts in the state legislature demonstrate a commitment to aiding recovery, although advocates stress the need for additional funding to meet the substantial demands of the ongoing recovery process. Despite the challenges, there remains a hopeful outlook as the state seeks to rebuild and rejuvenate impacted communities.