Cooper Unveils $3.9 Billion Helene State Relief Package – Winston-Salem Journal

Gov. Roy Cooper is recommending spending an additional $3.9 billion on disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Helena in a state funding proposal unveiled Wednesday.

Cooper said at an estimated $53.6 billion in damages — so far — that’s more than triple the amount suffered during Hurricane Florence in 2018.

The proposed $3.9 billion would be used to begin rebuilding critical infrastructure, homes, businesses, schools and farms damaged during the Sept. 26-27 storm that devastated western North Carolina.

“Helin is the deadliest and most damaging storm to ever hit North Carolina,” Cooper said.

“This storm left a trail of destruction in our beautiful mountains that we won’t soon forget, but I know the people of Western North Carolina are determined to rebuild better than ever. These initial funds are a good start, but the staggering amount of damage shows that we are very much at the forefront of this recovery effort.”

Meanwhile, the state House Rules and Operations Committee is scheduled to review the next disaster relief bill at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

State emergency management officials are expected to have provided the results of an expedited preliminary assessment of damage and needs so lawmakers can determine the next amount to draw from the rainy day fund.

The House of Representatives is implementing a gut-and-replace method with Senate Bill 743, which currently contains language regarding changes to the state’s broadband and state home financing subsidy program. The revised bill had not been posted on the Legislature’s website as of 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Because SB743 was sent to a reconciliation committee after clearing both chambers, it is not subject to amendment when it comes up for a vote during a session.

If Republican legislative leaders follow the pattern of House Bill 149, lawmakers will have relatively limited time to review the relief language in SB743 before a vote Thursday afternoon.

Also potentially on the House and Senate calendars is a vote to override a veto of House Bill 10 — the controversial school voucher funding and sheriffs’ cooperation with federal ICE law.

The presentation by Cooper and State Budget Director Christine Walker projects about $33.4 billion in ongoing unfunded damages and needs.

Of the remaining $20.2 billion, FEMA funding is expected to provide $13.6 billion, private and other funding sources $6.3 billion, and the state $273 million so far of the $4.75 billion rainy day fund dollar.

Cooper recommends spending an additional $1.1 billion in rainy day funds. Lawmakers have set a cap on how much rainy day funds can be spent at any one time.

Another $1 billion will come from an inflation reserve fund and $700 million from the emergency fund. Disaster Response and Relief Fund. In addition, there is $406 million in undistributed funds that can be drawn down.

Of that initial $273 million, about $250 million is going to state agencies and local governments for relief and recovery operations in the 39 affected counties, including Allegany, Ashe, Forsyth, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin.

Cooper called for some state funding to be made available sooner rather than later, not only to speed up the recovery process but also to provide limited recovery equipment.

“Successful recovery requires significant early investment to ensure communities have the tools to fully recover,” Cooper said.