The North Carolina state House unanimously approved a measure on Tuesday to allocate an additional $500 million towards Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in western North Carolina. This funding would supplement the funds previously approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly in late 2024 to address disaster recovery activities following the historic flooding in the mountains in September.
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein had requested legislators to approve more than double the amount, totaling $1.07 billion, citing the urgent need to assist struggling businesses, displaced residents, and public school students in the region. While GOP lawmakers agree on the necessity of providing more funds promptly, they are cautious about maximizing federal matching funds and avoiding errors made in response to previous storms. They anticipate approving additional aid for Helene recovery in the coming months.
