Harper Tate
389 Country
Raleigh, N.C. – Governor Josh Stein announced on Thursday, February 20, 2025, that he is seeking $19 billion in federal funding to support recovery and rebuilding efforts in western North Carolina, nearly five months after Hurricane Helene ravaged the region. The announcement came as Stein met with U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd to press for urgent investments in the storm-battered area, which faces an estimated $60 billion in damages.
Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction across western North Carolina, claiming lives and devastating homes, businesses, farms, and infrastructure. While immediate relief efforts brought together federal, state, local, and private sector partners, Stein emphasized that the scale of the disaster demands a far greater response. “Despite a focused response… it is clear that much more help is needed to restore and rebuild,” the governor said in a statement.
The $19 billion request aims to fund a range of critical needs: rebuilding homes, repairing infrastructure, supporting businesses, stabilizing local governments, and bolstering resilience against future disasters. Stein noted that the state has already allocated over $1 billion toward recovery efforts and is collaborating with the legislature to secure additional resources. “With continued commitment of the federal and state governments, we will enable the people of western North Carolina to come back stronger than ever before,” he pledged.
Stein’s appeal to Senators Tillis and Budd underscores the bipartisan urgency of the recovery effort, as North Carolina leaders push for federal assistance to match the state’s contributions. The proposal now heads to Washington, where it will compete with other national priorities in an already contentious budget landscape.
The announcement marks a pivotal step in addressing one of the most destructive natural disasters in North Carolina’s history, with the long-term recovery of the western region hanging in the balance.
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