Latest news with #HeleneRecovery
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Stein signed a $524 million Helene relief package. Where is the money going?
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The first bill Josh Stein signed into law as North Carolina governor was a Hurricane Helene relief package worth more than $500 million. The package was about half of what Stein originally requested from state lawmakers, but those legislators promised more help is on the way. 'This bill shows that when we work together, we can get really good things done for the people of this state,' said Stein during a bill signing ceremony in Raleigh on Wednesday night. Gov. Josh Stein shares his vision for NC with inaugural State of the State address The biggest portion will go to farmers, $200 million to cover crop losses. $120 million will help pay for a home reconstruction and repair program while $20 million will be used to pay for debris clean up. $9 million will be used to pay for a learning program to make up lost schooling time for students in western North Carolina. Remaining dollars will go toward helping people get rehoused after being displaced by previous storms in eastern North Carolina. House Speaker Destin Hall said the General Assembly is already planning to pass another relief package. 'This is the fourth bill we've passed on Helene Recovery,' Hall explained. 'It's not the last one, passing this today, it's going into law. Tomorrow we'll begin working on the next round of relief for Helene because it's going to be a long recovery with incredible devastation in western North Carolina.' NC Senate passes bill easing concealed carry gun restrictions Western NC is also still waiting on federal aid which will cover the lion's share of recovery costs. Stein said he continues to work with the state's DC delegation to get money to the state. 'It's really complicated because the federal government has appropriated funds but it hasn't allocated funds and even when it has allocated funds, it has not distributed the funds,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NC House passes $500 million Helene Relief Bill
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — The North Carolina House of Representatives passed House Bill 47, known as the 'Disaster Recovery Act of 2025,' with strong support Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. House Bill 47 allocates $500 million for Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Western North Carolina, bringing total relief funding from the General Assembly to more than $1.1 billion. Key funding provisions include: $140 million for rebuilding and repairing homes $150 million to assist farmers and restore farmland $100 million for repairing private roads and bridges $55 million for small business infrastructure grants $20 million to remove millions of cubic yards of debris $10 million to support essential volunteer organizations $10 million for volunteer fire departments $10 million for rental assistance $5 million for travel and tourism marketing 'Ensuring Western North Carolina recovers swiftly and responsibly remains our top priority in the House. For that reason, House Bill 47 is the first legislation voted on and approved this session,' Speaker Destin Hall said. 'I am proud of the work the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery, our Western NC delegation and others accomplished to pass this crucial legislation, and I'm encouraged by the overwhelming support it received today.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Part of I-40 in western NC to open by March; more federal support for Helene Recovery
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — On Monday, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced that Interstate 40 in the western part of the state will reopen two lanes by March 1. This announcement comes after a visit by the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy surveyed Helene Recovery in the area. 'Today, I am pleased to announce that we will reopen two lanes of I-40 by March 1,' Governor Stein said in the statement, 'I am proud of NCDOT's focus on this challenge and the roadworkers who have worked tirelessly to reopen roads and keep people safe. Reopening these lanes will help reconnect North Carolina and Tennessee and allow us to welcome back visitors to bolster the economy.' During Secretary Duffy's visit, he announced that the USDOT and U.S. Forest Services have partnered their efforts to help USDOT obtain a 'special use' permit to use rock from Forest Service land to extract materials. This partnership will allow the N.C. Department of Transportation to get construction materials from nearby rivers in western N.C. instead of transporting them from 20 to 50 miles away. This permit is a commonsense solution to reduce the time it would take to rebuild the highway and significantly cut down on costs 'President Trump directed me to build infrastructure faster, better, and more affordably,' said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. 'That is why, when we recently identified a path to reduce I-40's construction costs and timeline by as much as two-thirds of the original Biden-era estimate, I immediately asked my team what we could do to help. Today's announcement will help ensure we deliver this critical project more efficiently for the American people. Too often, the federal government creates obstacles that slow recovery and drive up costs. This time, we're cutting through those burdensome barriers to get the job done, ensuring USDOT's full support for our state partner's success every step of the way throughout this project.' The federal government will continue to work alongside state and local officials to provide resources and aid to help the western N.C. community recover. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NC House lawmakers consider $500 million for Hurricane Helene relief
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – NC state representatives are considering an additional $500 million for rebuilding efforts in the western portion of the state after Hurricane Helene. Members of the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery met Wednesday to discuss HB 47, a spending proposal that totals less than half of what Governor Josh Stein said is necessary to cover 'immediate needs.' Stein visited the region Monday, calling for $1.07 billion to support urgent rebuilding needs. The short title for the new bill is 'The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part I,' suggesting lawmakers intend to follow the legislation with more action. 4 months later: 18-wheeler cab removed from Swannanoa River as recovery efforts surge following Hurricane Helene Committee co-chair State Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne) said the bill is a framework and 'a step forward' in the House's ongoing response to the devastation. 'We know that no matter what appropriation we're able to do, it's never going to be enough, but this is a starting point, with multiple bills after this to follow,' he said. This is the fourth aid package from the legislature and the largest since October 2024 when elected officials allocated $600 million for the storm-affected counties. The funds are allocated as follows: $150 million for home reconstruction and repairs. $150 million for agriculture restoration projects and assistance. $100 million for private road and bridge repairs and replacements. $60 million for repair of state facilities, including state parks and prisons. $20 million for debris removal unmet needs. $10 million for Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs). $10 million for volunteer fire departments in the affected area. The Republican-backed bill matches Stein's request for home reconstruction but does not include funding for two major business grant programs nor the costs to cover summer school for districts that lost about two weeks of class time. Committee members can make amendments to the proposal when they meet on February 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NC lawmakers weigh new aid for Hurricane Helene, drafting up $500 million in new spending
Repair vehicles from the North Carolina Department of Transportation repair a partially cratered road in western North Carolina amid the recovery from Hurricane Helene. (Photo: NCDOT) State lawmakers are preparing to spend an additional $500 million in relief for western North Carolina, laying the groundwork for their fourth aid package since Hurricane Helene and the first of 2025. Under a bill introduced by GOP lawmakers Wednesday in the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery, the General Assembly would move another $275 million into the state's Helene relief fund. Together with a bill passed in December that set aside without spending more than $200 million, the total new commitment would exceed a half-billion dollars. The new relief package would be the legislature's largest aid bill since mid-October, when it set out $600 million in a second round of relief. It would push the state's total financial commitment to the storm well over $1 billion. Though the bill funds multiple key requests outlined by Gov. Josh Stein, it falls well short of the total new spending he had requested — $1 billion to address 'immediate needs.' 'This is a starting point, with multiple bills after to follow,' said Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne), who co-chairs the House committee. He called the bill a 'framework' open to changes, and said discussions were well underway with the Senate, Stein's office and Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler's office. That committee will return next week for debate and amendments on the bill; Wednesday's hearing was only for discussion. Among the largest line-items in the new proposed relief bill are: $150 million for a new homebuilding program under the Department of Commerce. The program is part of Stein's new team leading efforts out west and effectively replacing ReBuild NC, the long-troubled program in eastern North Carolina. $150 million for the Department of Agriculture to restore damages to farms, protect against additional flood damage and more. $100 million to repair private roads and bridges. $60 million to repair damaged state parks, forests and health care facilities. $20 million for debris removal. $10 million for for grants to volunteer organizations assisting with recovery. $10 million for grants to small and volunteer fire departments. Private road and bridge repairs are ordinarily not covered by government spending. But officials have indicated that the scale of damage done to vital mountain infrastructure that's privately owned requires aid. A new program within North Carolina's emergency management department would be charged with approving and sending out the money for private repairs. The state took a similar approach after Tropical Storm Fred in 2021. Republican leaders in the legislature have repeatedly warned against spending too much, too fast, on the state level. And in this latest proposed relief, they outline guardrails to prevent duplicate spending — instructing the state to 'take all reasonable steps' to obtain federal money or alternative steps. Included in the bill are several of Stein's top priorities — notably money for the new homebuilding program, as officials warn federal housing money could take months to arrive. Lawmakers have spent years scrutinizing the state's previous homebuilding program, which was created after Hurricanes Matthew and Florence and has faced years-long financial troubles. 'I really believe that there is a desire on the part of the governor's office not to see that repeated,' said Rep. Dudley Greene (R-Avery). The proposed relief bill also pledges more than Stein asked for farm recovery and private infrastructure. But absent are several other major asks — including money for business grants and for schools to provide summer education. 'My administration has prioritized a number of items that simply cannot wait until the General Assembly enacts its budget for the next fiscal year,' Stein wrote in a letter to legislative leaders this week. His office has indicated a more comprehensive budget request, including long-term needs, will come later. 'Have you ever seen a governor's proposed budget or request go through the General Assembly 'as is'?' Bell said. 'The answer is no. The fact is, we've already done multiple hurricane bills, and we'll do more after this.' On the other side of the building, a trio of senators introduced an aid bill Wednesday — a similar 'shell' bill that does not outline a specific spending total or line-items. Bell said he was optimistic that both chambers could come to an agreement in the coming weeks. 'Hopefully we'll get to a good place,' he said. House Bill 47 PCS
