Recovery funds allocated to western North Carolina from the General Assembly now exceed $1.4 billion following Gov. Josh Stein’s signing of a fourth relief bill on Thursday, providing an additional $524 million in response to Hurricane Helene.
This latest legislation also includes $217 million for eastern North Carolina’s recovery from previous storms, including Hurricane Matthew (2016) and Hurricane Florence (2018).
“Since Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, the General Assembly has come together to address real-time needs of our citizens,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, R-Rockingham. “This bill will make a world of difference for the people of western North Carolina, and I’m proud to see it become law.”
Gov. Stein, signing his first piece of legislation, called it a promising step forward but emphasized that more work remains. “I will keep pushing to ensure western North Carolina is not forgotten,” he said.
The bill, known as the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1 (House Bill 47), directs funds to critical areas, including:
- $200 million for crop-loss and farm restoration specific to Helene.
- $120 million for home rebuilding and repairs.
- $100 million for repairing private roads and bridges.
- Additional funds for small business infrastructure grants, debris removal, volunteer organizations, and student learning recovery programs.
This marks the fourth major disaster relief package in response to Helene. The Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 passed in October allocated $273 million, primarily to state agencies and local governments. Later, the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 – Part II added over $877 million in relief, followed by a third package that faced legal challenges due to various law changes.
Congress approved about $9 billion in disaster relief for North Carolina as part of a $110 billion federal package in December, excluding FEMA assistance, which is projected to reach billions of dollars. FEMA reported Wednesday that its assistance has already surpassed $10 million.
