North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration said this week that the state is in need of at least $53 billion to help repair from the damages Hurricane Helene caused.
“It is no exaggeration to describe Helene as the deadliest and most damaging storm ever to hit North Carolina,” Cooper said.
The state budget office created the preliminary figure for direct or indirect damages.
“This jaw-dropping damage figure reminds us that we are very much on the front end of this recovery effort,” he continued.
Cooper’s requests include $475 million for a two-phase recovery program for businesses, with grants from $1,500 to $50,000 in the first phase and up to $75,000 in the second phase.
Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration’s response to Hurricane Helene, saying that the Federal Government were “going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas.”
“We are now heading to Valdosta, Georgia, in order to pay my respects and bring lots of relief material, including fuel, equipment, water, and other things, to the State,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Many politicians and Law Enforcement will be there. We’ll be saying hello to Franklin Graham, Burt Jones, Tyler Harper, Mike Collins, Austin Scott, Russ Goodman, Sam Watson, and the Mayor of Valdosta Scott James.
“They are working very hard. I was also going to stop into North Carolina, which has really been hit hard. I have a lot of supplies ready for them, but access and communication is now restricted, and we want to make sure that Local Emergency Management is able to focus on helping the people most affected, and not being concerned with me.”
On a visit to Valdosta, Georgia, Donald Trump made a stop to deliver essential aid including food, water, and other supplies on Monday in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction. Accompanying him was Franklin Graham, the elder son of Billy Graham and the leader of Samaritan’s Purse as well as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
