Governor Roy Cooper and President Joe Biden hold a briefing on Helene’s impacts at the State Emergency Operations Center following an aerial tour of areas damaged by the hurricane. During the briefing, President Biden announced the approval of 100% FEMA Reimbursement for six months, a significant funding commitment from the federal government. (Pool photo/Paul Barker-Governor’s Office)
North Carolina elected officials wasted little time this week in enacting Hurricane Helene relief legislation. Less than 24 hours after legislative leaders unveiled a $273 million package that they described as a “first step” in their response to the disaster, the bill is now law. Gov. Roy Cooper signed House Bill 149, which both the state Senate and House approved unanimously Wednesday afternoon, on Thursday morning.
Cooper issued a brief statement to accompany the bill signing in which he said:
The vast majority of the appropriated funds will serve as a state match to qualify for FEMA federal disaster programs. The federal government has pledged 100% reimbursement for six months following the disaster.
Another $16 million will help back pay salaries for nutrition staff whose schools have been closed in the storm’s aftermath. And the bill grants impacted schools more flexibility to adjust their calendars and add remote teaching as needed.
The legislation also seeks to address challenges involved in conducting the fall election in storm-damaged counties by loosening some voting rules and allotting an extra $5 million to the State Board of Elections.
With emergency relief efforts still underway in the western part of the state and months, if not years, of recovery efforts ahead, the new law is certain to be far from the last that state leaders enact. Lawmakers are expected to consider additional relief and recovery legislation when they return to Raleigh on October 24.