Governor Stein extends state of emergency for western NC wildfires
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — As wildfires continue to wreak havoc in western North Carolina, relief is being extended by the state and federal government.
Governor Josh Stein announced Saturday that the state of emergency is extended for the next 30 days for 34 counties in NC.
Wildfires have ravaged an already damaged part of the state, making it even harder for citizens to recover.
'I appreciate all of the first responders, emergency managers, state forest rangers, and state and local officials working hard to protect North Carolinians from wildfires,' said Governor Stein. 'I am extending this State of Emergency to ensure the State Emergency Response Team has every resource available to continue to respond to wildfires to protect people and property.'
Here are the counties included among the state of emergency: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey, as well as the tribal lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
PREVIOUSLY: Evacuation order issued as crews battle wildfire in western NC
In the press release, the state's Department of Agriculture cited 2,348 wildfire incidents between March and April. A statewide burn ban was issued by the NC Forestry Service between March 21 and April 2.
'The spring wildfire season is off to a very busy start, which has kept the N.C. Forest Service, first responders and emergency management staff on their toes,' said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
The extension will continue to provide resources to assist counties by deploying firefighters and sending more logistical supplies and equipment. Also, the State Emergency Operations Center's 24-hour Watch Center will continue assisting counties with issuing evacuation orders through the Wireless Emergency Alert Network and through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.
'I appreciate the Governor extending the State of Emergency and making resources available, especially with the elevated risk of wildfires in Western NC,' said Troxler. 'I also urge people to use extreme caution when doing any burning.'
FEMA previously announced on Monday that federal funds were authorized to help battle the Sam Davis Road wildfires in Swain County. They said the fire threatened approximately 70 homes in the Lower Alarka and Big Rockies Road area.
Before that, FEMA provided federal funding for wildfires in Alarka — which is also in Swain County — the Table Rock Fire that started in South Carolina and spread to NC, and Black Cove in Polk and Henderson counties all back in March.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Severe storms threaten Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals Game 2 tonight: Could it be delayed?
When the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, there will be plenty of thunder and severe weather happening outside Paycom Center in the Oklahoma City metro. Current projections from the National Weather Service forecast severe storms to start after 4 p.m. at the earliest and continue until 11 p.m. at the latest over Oklahoma City. These storms are predicted to create wind gusts up to 80 mph and up to baseball-sized hail near OKC. More risky severe weather is expected in southwestern Oklahoma, but conditions can always worsen quickly. Here is what to know about severe weather chances in Oklahoma City going into Game 2 on Sunday. According to forecasts from the NWS Norman station, the Oklahoma City metro could see rain starting between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Severe weather should end by 11 p.m. in the metro, but severe weather watches, if issued, could be extended. The southeast winds could have gusts higher than 80 mph throughout the metro, even though there is low potential for a tornado. The metro area is only at an "enhanced risk" of seeing severe weather on Sunday night. Yet, these forecasts include hail up to a softball size. As of 4 p.m., the NWS has issued warnings only in southwestern Oklahoma. According to FEMA guidelines, the best places to be during a storm are a storm shelter or a basement. If you are unable to reach a shelter or a basement, FEMA recommends going to the innermost room, hallway, or closet on the lowest level of the building. According to Lucy Albers, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Paycom, the facility is prepared to accommodate for any severe weather conditions. For starters, she noted that the facility typically doesn't allow umbrellas, but due to the weather, they will make an exception and allow guests to bring them in. Because of the gambit of weather events Oklahoma can be presented, Albers also said they have to be prepared for everything. "We're a large sporting event facility in Oklahoma, so this is not the first time we've had events in some severe weather," Albers said. Leading up to events, Albers noted that leadership has discussions with the staff regarding safety protocols. During the event, the security manager is in direct contact with individuals at the NWS and staying up to date on all possibilities. Should the storm continue after the final whistle blows and remain severe enough, Albers said the Paycom Center is likely to hold guests in longer to ensure they stay as safe as possible, following a shelter-in-place protocol. Both officials with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Albers stated that should the weather become severe enough, the NBA holds the ability to make a call regarding gameplay; however, it would be communicated effectively to all parties involved. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA Finals: OKC storms could impact Thunder-Pacers game, what to know
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
NC must be ready to pay for hurricane recovery if FEMA loses funding, Gov. Stein says
North Carolina legislators may need to put hundreds of millions of dollars into the state's rainy-day fund to help with hurricane relief in case the federal government stops supporting disaster recovery, Gov. Josh Stein says. At a press conference marking the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, Stein said Thursday that President Donald Trump's cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency could leave states on their own to fund disaster recovery. Cuts to the federal agency that provides emergency aid to individuals and communities after events such as hurricanes, floods and fires constitutes 'a man-made disaster,' Stein said. The governor also said he was concerned about cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service forecasts provide the basis for weather-related planning to keep people out of harm's way. 'We are heading into this hurricane season with more uncertainty than usual,' Stein said, because funding for FEMA and NOAA are both in flux. Forecasters at NOAA and Colorado State University both have said they expect a busier-than-average hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. NOAA's forecasters say the Atlantic and Gulf coasts should expect 13 to 19 named storms in 2025. Of those, six to 10 are forecast to become hurricanes, including three to five that could be major hurricanes, Category 3 or stronger, with winds of at least 111 mph. The Atlantic basin has been in a period of more frequent hurricanes that are stronger and more destructive than in the past, probably due in part to climate change, researchers say. Hurricane Helene, which came ashore on Florida's Gulf Coast last September, was a tropical storm by the time it reached North Carolina, but has been blamed for 107 deaths in the state and caused more than $53 billion in damage, according to estimates made in October. As of May 30, FEMA said it had given North Carolina more than $656 million through the Public Assistance program, which funds state and local governments' response and recovery work, including road repair, debris removal and infrastructure repair. Through FEMA's Public Assistance program, the state received more than $484 million at a 100% federal cost share for 180 days, funding projects for road repair, debris removal, critical infrastructure repair and more. Since Jan. 20, 2025, more than $172 million in Public Assistance reimbursements has been approved to support the recovery efforts in North Carolina. The agency says it also has approved more than $455 million to help storm survivors pay for food, medicine, housing and home repairs, and another $22.4 million to repair private roads and bridges damaged by Helene. Stein and William Ray, the state's director of emergency management, said the beginning of hurricane season is a good time to start an emergency kit, which could be filled and ready to go when the season ramps up in North Carolina, usually beginning in August. has specific guidance on what to put into a hurricane kit and information on evacuation zones and routes. This story was produced with financial support from the Hartfield Foundation and Green South Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. If you would like to help support local journalism, please consider signing up for a digital subscription, which you can do here.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
FEMA centers open in Franklin County for March storm aid
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. – Help is on the way for families still recovering from devastating storms back in March. A disaster recovery center is opening at 8 a.m. Saturday morning at First Baptist Church of Gray Summit on Highway 100 in Franklin County. It's meant for people impacted by the tornadoes, high winds, and wildfires that hit March 14 and March 15. They will offer help with FEMA applications and access to relief services. FEMA teams are also in Rolla and St. Louis County on Saturday. They will be at the Route 66 Summer Festival from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Rolla Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to St. Louis County, FEMA will be at Castlepoint Park for a community connect event from Noon until 4 p.m. You can also apply for assistance online at The deadline to apply for losses and damage sustained back in March is July 22. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
