North Carolina government calculates Hurricane Helene damages, needs at
least $53B
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[October 24, 2024]
By GARY D. ROBERTSON
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The catastrophic flooding and destruction caused by
Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina likely caused at least a
record $53 billion in damages and recovery needs, Gov. Roy Cooper's
administration said Wednesday.
The state budget office generated the preliminary figure for direct or
indirect damages and potential investments to prevent similar
destruction in future storms.
Cooper told reporters the state's previous record for storm damage was
$17 billion from Hurricane Florence, which struck eastern North Carolina
in 2018.
“It is no exaggeration to describe Helene as the deadliest and most
damaging storm ever to hit North Carolina," Cooper said while unveiling
his request to the General Assembly for $3.9 billion to help pay for
repairs and revitalization. He called it a “down payment on western
North Carolina's future.”
North Carolina state officials have reported 96 deaths from Helene,
which brought historic levels of rain and flooding to the mountains in
late September.
The storm and its aftermath caused 1,400 landslides and damaged over 160
water and sewer systems, at least 6,000 miles (9,650 kilometers) of
roads, more than 1,000 bridges and culverts and an estimated 126,000
homes, the budget office said. Some 220,000 households are expected to
apply for federal assistance.
“This jaw-dropping damage figure reminds us that we are very much on the
front end of this recovery effort,” the Democratic governor said.
The report with Cooper's spending request was released the day before
the Republican-controlled legislature planned to meet for a one-day
session to advance additional Helene recovery legislation.
Lawmakers unanimously approved two weeks ago a $273 million package that
also included language to provide flexibility to state agencies,
displaced residents and officials running elections in 25 western
counties. Thirty-nine of the state's 100 counties are within the
federally declared disaster area.
State government coffers include several billon dollars that can be
accessed for future recovery spending. Almost $4.5 billion is in the
state's savings reserve alone.
Legislative leaders had not disclosed as of late Wednesday afternoon
specifics about what they would attempt to pass Thursday. Lawmakers were
still reviewing Cooper’s request that they received Tuesday, according
to Lauren Horsch, a spokesperson for Senate leader Phil Berger. Any
legislation is unlikely to be the full package presented by Cooper and
State Budget Director Kristin Walker. After Thursday, legislators are
expected to return to Raleigh on Nov. 19.
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North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper unveils a report about damages caused
by Hurricane Helene and his $3.9 billion request to the General
Assembly for recovery initiatives during a press conference at the
Albemarle Building in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP
Photo/Gary D. Robertson)
The damage report projects $48.8 billion in direct or indirect damages,
along with $4.8 billion of anticipated mitigation expenses. The budget
office estimates the federal government will cover $13.6 billion, with
private and other sources covering $6.3 billion.
Most of the losses won't ever be recovered, Walker said.
The private-source share of expenses likely will be relatively low
because so few homeowners and farmers in the disaster areas had flood or
crop insurance. Close to 93% of homes with flood damage verified by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency lacked flood insurance, the report
said.
Cooper's request includes $475 million for a two-phase recovery program
for businesses in the hardest-hit areas, with grants from $1,500 to
$50,000 in the first phase and up to $75,000 in the second phase.
Other highlights include $289 million in matching funds to access
federal money to repair utilities and debris removal; $225 million for
grants to farmers for uninsured losses; and $100 million for public
school and community college capital needs.
Cooper also wants $325 million to help homeowners and renters with
rebuilding and minor repairs immediately while a larger program
dependent on federal funds is implemented. It took nearly two years for
Washington to send community development block grant funding for home
repairs after Florence and Hurricane Matthew in 2016, the report said.
Wednesday's request also seeks $175 million to cover remaining Matthew
and Florence home repairs being made through the block grant program.
Cooper's administration attributes the shortfall to rising construction
costs, labor shortages, the COVID-19 pandemic and a congressional
appropriation that was roughly half of what the state requested.
The fiscal gap prompted Berger and another leading Senate Republican to
put out a news release Wednesday criticizing the $175 million request
and its timing, calling them yet another sign of poor management by the
state Office of Recovery and Resiliency. The senators said an oversight
committee would investigate the matter next month.
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