In an aerial view, flood damage wrought by Hurricane Helene with trucks flipped over is seen along the Swannanoa River on Oct. 3, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
North Carolina lawmakers on Thursday approved an additional $600 million of Hurricane Helene relief — a second round of aid that funds critical infrastructure and services in the western mountains, but comes well short of what Gov. Roy Cooper had requested.
The $604 million package, passed a month after Helene made landfall, will qualify the state for billions in additional federal aid.
And it sends state money to local governments, schools and families recovering from a storm that killed 96 and caused an estimated $53 billion in total damages.
“What we’re doing in the first bill and this bill is more than we’ve done before, for other storms,” said Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell). “We’re meeting the current needs on the ground.”
Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell). (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
The second aid package comes two weeks after an initial deal laid out $273 million to qualify for FEMA aid and prepare for the November election. It passed the Senate 46-0 and the House 108-0.
“As North Carolina continues to recover from the devastation caused by Helene, the North Carolina House remains committed to ensuring the people of Western North Carolina have what they need to rebuild and recover,” House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said.
“We stand with our neighbors and will see this recovery through to the end.”
Ahead of Thursday’s session, Cooper called on lawmakers to allocate $3.9 billion in a wide-ranging request. The final Republican-led bill addresses several of his top priorities, but comprises just a fraction of the governor’s desired spending.
Democrats said during debate that the bill was insufficient to meet the critical needs facing communities in the mountains.
“This bill does not do enough. It falls short,” said Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe). “The best way I can say it right now is that speed matters. Speed matters. The people and the economy of our region hang in the balance in this moment.”
Rep. Eric Ager (D-Buncombe) expressed similar concerns during the House floor debate, saying that while he supported the legislation, “we need more.” He also echoed Mayfield’s observation about the need for speedy relief “as [winter] weather comes down.”
What’s included in the legislature’s second round of relief?
A large chunk of the aid package is putting up additional money to earn federal disaster aid.
Two of the largest line-items — $100 million each — create loan programs for local governments to receive critical funding and repair their water and sewage infrastructure. And an additional $50 million fund is laid out for state and local governments to address “unmet needs.”
A total of $65 million will go toward public schools. The bulk of that ($50 million) is for repairs and renovations, while the rest goes toward replacing technology, funding nutrition services and providing mental health support.
Small businesses in the mountains — hit during peak tourism season — will qualify for recovery loans under a $50 million program in the bill.
Recovery efforts still ongoing from previous storms will also get an infusion of $40 million.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper outlines the damages and relief money needed after Hurricane Helene at a press conference on Oct. 23, 2024 in Raleigh. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
That includes $30 million for Rebuild NC — formally known as the NC Office of Recovery and Resiliency. Cooper had asked for $175 million for the agency, which has run up a $150 million deficit. Berger criticized that ask Wednesday, saying the office had “repeatedly tried to cover up their failures.”
Notably absent from the bill are prominent line-items Cooper proposed: $325 million in state dollars for housing recovery, as well as $225 million in aid for farmers.
House Democratic Leader Robert Reives (D-Chatham) called the aid package “sorely needed,” but was frustrated that his caucus was not consulted on it.
“This is once again a missed opportunity for a bipartisan approach to lawmaking,” Reives said in a statement. “I hope that our next round of disaster relief funding is more robust and includes more than just a small handful of people drafting it.”
Also included in the $604 million bill:
$25 million for mental health crisis support and support for individuals with disabilities.
$22 million for repairs to underground storage tank infrastructure.
$12 million to support local health departments.
$10 million for child care centers and family child care homes.
More than $25 million for students at community colleges and UNC System schools to receive emergency assistance or tuition grants.
$10 million for energy-saving weatherization services, and $5 million for flood mapping in the region.
$5 million for tourism promotion, including a targeted advertising campaign to urge tourists back to the mountains.
$1 million for rental assistance.