RALEIGH North Carolina is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Matthew. As the state begins the recovery process, Gov. Pat McCrory led the first meeting of the Hurricane Matthew Recovery Committee Tuesday in which he outlined a recovery plan for the first 100 days.”There are a lot of people in North Carolina like Troy Johnson in Fair Bluff who are still hurting,”said McCrory. “Through this framework and timeline, I am confident that we will be able to help North Carolinians like Troy recover and rebuild even stronger than before.”While touring flooded neighborhoods in Fair Bluff on Monday, McCrory met with Johnson and was inspired by his resilience following the loss of his home and personal belongings. The Recovery Committee will soon tour areas affected by Hurricane Matthew and will hold its first regional meeting in Lumberton, a community severely affected by flooding, later this month. The Committee was tasked with focusing on three key areas in the recovery process: fundraising for housing and small business; establishing community outreach; and developing long-term plans for sustainable recovery. McCrory noted he expects preliminary damage assessments to be completed this month. He also plans to formally submit North Carolina’s request for supplemental federal disaster assistance to the state’s congressional delegation on November 14. In addition, he plans to call a special session of the legislature in early December to address the long-term financial needs of the state going forward, as well as the school calendar.According to the governor’s office, 248 people remain in 4 shelters and there are still 1,000 power outages related to Hurricane Mathew. On Monday, the federal government approved McCrory’s request to add Halifax County for individual and public assistance, while individuals in Brunswick County can now apply for assistance. This brings the total number of counties that have qualified for both federal individual and public assistance to 37, while five additional counties have been approved for public assistance. More than $61 million has already been approved for individuals who have been affected by the storm. In late October, McCrory appointed Chief of Staff Thomas Stith to chair the Hurricane Matthew Recovery Committee. Other co-chairs appointed by the governor include Steve Wordsworth of Rocky Mount representing the business community, Anne Faircloth of Clinton representing the agriculture community and Vanessa Harrison of AT&T representing utilities. Committee members that have been named thus far include: Mike Alford – Marine Motors, Jacksonville, N.C. Keith Allison – Systel Business Equipment, Fayetteville, N.C. Ruben Blackwell – Opportunities Industrialization Center, Rocky Mount, N.C. Murchison “Bo” Biggs – CPA, Lumberton, N.C. Kellie Blue – UNC-Pembroke, Pembroke, N.C. Joel Butler – Vidant Health, Greenville, N.C. Lynn H. Carlson – Hendrick Companies, Charlotte, N.C. Lyl M. Clinard – High Point and Lumberton, N.C. David Courie – Attorney, Fayetteville, N.C. Walt Crayton – Crayton and Co., New Bern, N.C. Samuel Dixon – Attorney, Edenton, N.C. Andrea Harris – NC Institute Minority Economic Development, Durham, N.C. Les High – The News Reporter, Whiteville, N.C. Frank Holding – First Citizens Bank, Raleigh, N.C. Montell Irvin, P.E. – Ramey Kemp & Associates, Raleigh, N.C. Robert Ivey – Maxwell Foods, Goldsboro, N.C. Kevin Leonard – County Commissioner Association, Raleigh, N.C. Sidney Locks – Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, Greenville, N.C. Carl Meares, Jr. – Fair Bluff, N.C. Paul Meyer – NC League of Municipalities, Raleigh, N.C. Beverly Perdue – Former Governor of North Carolina James S. Perry – Attorney, Kinston, N.C. Lenny Peters, M.D. – Bethany Medical Center, High Point, N.C. Art Pope – Variety Wholesalers, Raleigh, N.C. Jonathan Rhyne, Jr. – Attorney, Lincolnton, N.C. Margaret Spellings – President, University of North Carolina Jonathan Tribula – Vanceboro Farm Life Elementary School, Vanceboro, N.C. Theresa Williams-Bethea – Kinston Promise Neighborhood, Inc., Kinston, N.C. Jimmie Williamson – President, North Carolina Community College System
