South Raleigh News

Governor Josh Stein visited Yancey County to meet with residents affected by Hurricane Helene. Accompanied by Yancey County Sheriff Shane Hilliard, Governor Stein also met with local officials and firefighters in Burnsville to express gratitude for their efforts as first responders.

"Yancey County residents are supporting each other in inspiring ways," said Governor Stein. "Just as they are working together to recover, so must we help them rebuild schools, small businesses, and critical infrastructure. I am grateful for the General Assembly’s ongoing work to get dollars to impacted areas, while I continue to push them and Congress to allocate meaningful resources to ensure western North Carolina is not forgotten."

During his visit, Governor Stein assessed the damage caused by the South Toe River flood and recognized the emergency response efforts of the South Toe Fire Department.

Since assuming office, Governor Stein has emphasized providing aid with urgency and accountability. He recently requested an additional $19 billion in federal funds for infrastructure restoration, home repair support, and disaster impact reduction. The governor is also collaborating with the legislature to secure state funding following his request for $1.07 billion.

Additionally, this week saw the launch of a recovery dashboard by the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina. This tool provides updates and information on Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.