South Raleigh News

Governor Roy Cooper has proposed a $3.9 billion state funding package to aid in the recovery and rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Helene, which recently devastated Western North Carolina. This budget recommendation aims to restore critical infrastructure, homes, businesses, schools, and farms that suffered extensive damage from the storm.

"Helene is the deadliest and most damaging storm ever to hit North Carolina," stated Governor Cooper. "This storm left a trail of destruction in our beautiful mountains that we will not soon forget, but I know the people of Western North Carolina are determined to build back better than ever. These initial funds are a good start, but the staggering amount of damage shows we are very much on the front end of this recovery effort."

The estimated damages from Hurricane Helene stand at $53 billion, making it the largest in state history and approximately three times more than those caused by Hurricane Florence in 2018. The recovery process will require substantial investments from private insurers as well as federal, state, and local governments.

The economic impact of Hurricane Helene is significant with thousands of businesses affected. To address these challenges, Governor Cooper's proposal includes $650 million for economic losses and physical damage for non-agricultural businesses and non-profit organizations. This initiative also plans to revive the Business Recovery Grant Program used during the pandemic.

For housing needs, $650 million is allocated to repair residential structures and provide housing assistance. These funds aim to expedite permanent housing construction ahead of potential federal aid.

Utilities and natural resources have also been heavily impacted across various communities. The proposed funding includes $578 million for energy restoration, water system repairs, waste cleanup, telecommunications infrastructure repair, dam maintenance, and other essential services.

Transportation infrastructure suffered greatly with about 5,000 miles of roads damaged including major interstates. The budget proposes $55 million for road repairs and addressing revenue implications due to transportation disruptions.

In agriculture, $422 million is designated for repairing physical damage and mitigating business interruptions affecting agricultural enterprises across hundreds of thousands of acres.

Additionally, Governor Cooper's budget includes provisions for ongoing recovery from previous disasters such as PTC-8 and Tropical Storm Debby with an allocation of $420 million.

The complete Budget Recommendation can be accessed online.