Governor Stein, state leaders prepare for hurricane season amid uncertainty of federal help
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Hurricane preparedness is long underway in North Carolina.
'[We're] conducting statewide exercises to test our communication systems, performing readiness checks, and making improvements based on any gaps that we find,' Governor Josh Stein said in a hurricane preparedness update on Thursday.
'We're already taking action on identified areas for improvement in the wake of Helene,' Will Ray, the Director of Emergency Management, said.
But it's more challenging this year than ever before. Governor Stein and other state emergency management leaders say uncertainty surrounding the futures of federal agencies like FEMA, NOAA, and the National Weather Service are front of mind.
'I think that we all have reason to be worried, there are cuts happening at the federal government that are going to impact the quality of services that affect people's lives,' the Governor said.
The state is still spending hundreds of millions of dollars on recovery in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. So, how prepared is the state financially for another major storm?
'That is an issue that is being negotiated between the two branches of the legislature right now. How big is our rainy day fund?' Governor Stein said. 'In my budget, I had proposed adding $500m to that to build it up a little bit in the eventuality of future hurricanes.'
Governor Stein says the state needs to be ready to be self-reliant and not dependent on help from the federal government.
'Even if you dramatically restructure FEMA and have this federal government step away from helping states that are hit, there's going to be a real financial consequence to each state that's impacted and we need to budget accordingly,' he said.
And for people at home, state leaders are offering the same tips they do every year: make sure you have an emergency kit on hand before a storm hits your area with water, medication, and non-perishable food.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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