Efforts to recover from the devastating impact of Helene in western North Carolina were the focus of a legislative hearing on Wednesday. State legislators are evaluating the extent of the damage and planning future actions to expedite the recovery process.
Governor Josh Stein’s administration briefed a legislative oversight committee on the current recovery initiatives. House Speaker Destin Hall emphasized the importance of avoiding duplication of efforts with federal programs. “What they’re doing is studying — we don’t want to overlap with what the federal government’s doing,” Hall mentioned. “We want to make sure we’re being efficient and not spending things on the same thing the feds are going to do. So where we need to get money quickly, we’re going to do that.”
Despite federal funding being approved last month, Jonathan Krebs, an advisor to Governor Stein, stated that the amount is insufficient to fully address the needs in the affected areas. “We did not receive near enough money to support the needs in western North Carolina,” he explained.
North Carolina had initially requested around $26 billion from the federal government in December. However, current estimates suggest the state will receive approximately $15.7 billion, a figure that may change due to executive orders from President Donald Trump.
The need for rebuilding infrastructure such as private roads and bridges remains a priority, particularly for emergency services that struggle to access certain areas. Concerns also linger regarding the timely arrival of federal housing reconstruction funds.
Krebs expressed apprehensions about potential delays due to the presidential transition and HUD funds, which are crucial for permanent housing recovery. “If we are going to build this summer and start the work of permanent housing and make the best of 2025, we’re going to have to come up with some creative solutions to do permanent housing now,” he said.
Interestingly, the demand for temporary housing solutions like travel trailers provided by FEMA and nonprofits has been lower than anticipated. “They can’t find people that want them and have a need,” Krebs noted, attributing this to many residents finding alternative safe housing arrangements.
In addition to infrastructure and housing, the state is also prioritizing the removal of storm debris, a significant factor in wildfire risk management. During the hearing, concerns were raised as residents in McDowell County had to be evacuated due to a nearby wildfire.
Rep. Mark Pless, representing some of the most affected areas, urged the Stein administration to clearly communicate the financial requirements for recovery. “Tell us how much money you need, so that we can move forward and start putting these people back together,” he urged, expressing frustration over the slow progress thus far.
An additional meeting by a joint House and Senate oversight committee is scheduled for Thursday morning. This discussion will focus on the ongoing response to Helene and address the needs stemming from past hurricanes.
