This week, western North Carolina officials will meet with White House staff and the state’s congressional delegation to discuss further federal aid as Hurricane recovery efforts continue.
“We need for the administration to release any discretionary funds that they have at their disposal,” Esther Manheimer, the mayor of Asheville, told NC Newsline. “And we need to reduce the match required by FEMA for recovery costs. We need them to move the cost share from 75/25 to 90/10.”
In October, the Biden-Harris administration approved 100% reimbursement on disaster relief assistance for Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
This means that the Federal government will cover 100 percent of the costs associated with recovery efforts like debris removal, first responders, search and rescue, shelters, and mass feeding.
According to NC Newsline, North Carolina lawmakers and other Helene-impacted states have called on congressional leaders to approve more aid, including funding for a relief program under the Small Business Administration, which has run out of money.
Last month, Governor Cooper proposed $3.9 billion in state funds to rebuild critical infrastructure and cover damaged homes, economic relief, and agriculture caused by the storm.
“Helene is the deadliest and most damaging storm ever to hit North Carolina,“ stated Governor Cooper. “This storm left a trail of destruction in our beautiful mountains that we will not soon forget, but I know the people of Western North Carolina are determined to build back better than ever. These initial funds are a good start, but the staggering amount of damage shows we are very much on the front end of this recovery effort.”
In a press release on Monday, Governor Cooper urged lawmakers to address needs arising from Hurricane Helene, ahead of an expected vote on a veto override of House Bill 10 – a Republican-backed bill aimed at diverting funding to private schools and requiring local sheriffs to honor ICE detainment requests.
“The people of Western North Carolina need our support right now to continue recovery and rebuilding their communities,” stated Governor Roy Cooper, in the press release. “When legislators return to session, they must prioritize helping our neighbors in Western North Carolina instead of sending hundreds of millions more in taxpayer dollars to private school vouchers.”
