RALEIGH—Gov. Roy Cooper announced that the federal government will cover 90% of recovery costs for areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, an increase from the standard 75% reimbursement rate.
“A complete recovery in Western North Carolina will require an investment of billions of dollars and agreement by the Biden Harris Administration to cover more of the cost is a tremendous boost to our efforts,” Cooper said in a Dec. 7 press release. “We will continue working to get more funding into Western North Carolina so we can rebuild our communities in stronger and more resilient ways.”
The expanded cost-sharing agreement will provide significant financial relief to North Carolina, covering public assistance, hazard mitigation and other needs assistance.
Public assistance funding will reimburse state and local governments, as well as certain private and nonprofit organizations, for expenses related to debris removal, emergency protective measures, infrastructure repairs and management costs.
Hazard mitigation funding will enable communities to implement strategies to reduce future disaster risks. This may include property elevation in flood-prone areas and voluntary property acquisitions for areas deemed unsuitable for rebuilding.
Other needs assistance will help individuals address disaster-related expenses, including medical care, dental services, funeral costs, personal property replacement, transportation and vehicle repairs.
North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray emphasized that the increased federal cost share will allow state resources to stretch further, potentially accelerating recovery and mitigation projects through 2025.
“As we continue into the recovery phase of this disaster, there will be a significant cost to rebuilding western North Carolina communities and to assist survivors with recovering from Helene,” said Ray. “The increased federal cost share provided will allow for state dollars to go further which will expedite many recovery and hazard mitigation projects as we go into 2025.”
The announcement comes amid the formation of a legislative Hurricane Helene recovery committee, concerns about the federal government’s slow response and additional federal funding requests.
On Dec. 6, Vice President-elect JD Vance toured portions of the impacted areas along with North Carolina Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd.
“My simple message to the people of Appalachia is that we haven’t forgotten you — we love you,” Vance said. “Certainly when this administration changes hands in the next 45 days, we’re going to do everything that we can to help people rebuild, to get them back on their feet, to bring some commerce back to this area, but, most importantly, to allow people to live in their homes.”
Survivors and volunteers in the area claim the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has refused to allow certain housing in the impacted areas, citing flood plain regulations.
“If you don’t grant a waiver, you’re effectively telling people they’ve got to move hundreds of miles away and do it two weeks before Christmas,” said Vance. “It’s ridiculous. It’s atrocious. And we need a government that responds quickly to its citizens.”
Vance called on the Biden administration and FEMA to temporarily waive flood plain rules for temporary housing, such as RVs and tiny homes.
