Helene Recovery Aid Sought

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein traveled to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to press federal leaders for additional disaster recovery funding for western North Carolina, more than a year after Hurricane Helene devastated communities across the region.

During meetings with members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, Stein thanked lawmakers for their ongoing support while urging Congress to approve a new $13.5 billion disaster supplemental appropriation. The governor said existing federal aid, while critical, falls far short of the scale of destruction caused by the storm.

Stein also met with acting Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Karen Evans to discuss progress on recovery programs and to request faster action on pending Hazard Mitigation Grant Program applications. He was joined by GROW NC (Governor's Recovery Office for Western North Carolina) Advisory Committee co-chairs Esther Manheimer, the mayor of Asheville, and Kevin Corbin, who represents several hard-hit mountain counties in the 50th district: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, and Transylvania. 

“The federal government has committed just over $7 billion toward western North Carolina’s recovery since Hurricane Helene,” Stein said. “We are grateful for every dollar, and this aid has been critical. But it represents only about 12 percent of the storm’s total damage. Historically, the federal government has covered closer to 50 percent of disaster costs. It has been more than a year since Congress delivered relief for western North Carolina, and it’s time for these communities to get their fair share.”

According to the governor’s office, total damage from Helene is estimated at nearly $60 billion. While Congress initially acted quickly after the storm, Stein said additional appropriations are now essential to sustain long-term recovery for the region’s roughly 3.5 million residents.

The governor’s $13.5 billion request would be allocated across several federal agencies:

• $1.77 billion through the U.S. Department of Transportation to continue repairing damaged roads and bridges.

• $8.37 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help homeowners repair or rebuild storm-damaged residences.

• $1.99 billion from FEMA, largely in the form of forgivable loans to help strained local governments maintain essential services.

• $540 million through the Environmental Protection Agency to restore water and wastewater infrastructure.

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State officials note that previous major disasters — including Hurricanes Katrina, Maria, and Sandy — saw more than 70 percent of total damage costs covered by federal funding. If approved, Stein’s request would raise federal support for North Carolina’s Helene recovery to approximately 47 percent of total losses.

In addition to new funding, Stein urged FEMA to accelerate decisions on Hazard Mitigation Grant Program applications, which are designed to reduce the impact of future disasters. The program supports projects such as buying out or elevating homes at high risk of repeated flooding.

The governor said he was encouraged to learn that FEMA has approved the first set of homeowner buyout applications. However, he emphasized that hundreds more remain pending. North Carolina has submitted applications for more than 550 home buyouts, totaling about $240 million, many of which have been under federal review for months.

“These delays leave families in limbo,” Stein said, noting that some homeowners are still paying mortgages on properties that no longer exist. “Families deserve clarity so they can plan for their futures.”

Stein said he will continue working with federal partners and North Carolina’s congressional delegation until additional funding is secured and outstanding mitigation applications are resolved, calling disaster recovery “a team effort” that requires sustained federal engagement.

“For western North Carolina to fully recover and rebuild stronger,” he said, “the federal government cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.”