In the wake of Hurricane Helene, which killed 103 people and caused an estimated $53 billion in damages, North Carolina has received significant aid for recovery efforts, including over $1.1 billion in state relief and billions more in federal requests. The storm, considered the state’s worst natural disaster, has prompted both state and federal governments to take action, though criticism has followed regarding the adequacy of those efforts.
As the 12th week of recovery concluded, state lawmakers passed several pieces of legislation to provide relief. The Disaster Recovery Act of 2024, passed on October 9, allocated $273 million, mostly to state agencies and local governments, to help those affected. Key portions of the funding included $250 million for federal disaster assistance programs, $16 million for school nutrition employee compensation, and $5 million for election administration changes.
On October 24, the second part of the Disaster Recovery Act was passed, contributing more than $877 million in relief, with $100 million allocated to the Local Government Commission, $100 million for the Department of Environmental Quality, and $75 million for matching federal disaster assistance. The third package, which required a veto override, included $252 million for Helene recovery, bringing the total state funding to over $1.1 billion.
Gov. Roy Cooper also made a request to the Legislature for $3.9 billion in additional funding, with Republican lawmakers agreeing to pay out the relief in installments.
At the federal level, aid has come from various agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as National Guard troops from other states. However, a comprehensive federal aid package, including a proposal for $98 billion from the Biden administration, is still pending in Congress. This package includes $40 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, $23.5 billion for farmers, and $4 billion for water infrastructure.
In mid-November, Gov. Cooper, joined by North Carolina’s congressional delegation, requested an additional $25.57 billion for the state’s recovery. The request sought funding from several federal agencies, including FEMA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Agriculture, to help with transportation, housing, and small business recovery efforts.
While substantial progress has been made, the full extent of federal support for Hurricane Helene recovery remains to be seen, as lawmakers continue to negotiate the final aid packages.
