The North Carolina legislature approved a $273 million aid package Wednesday to help victims of Hurricane Helene, as leaders pledged more is to come.
Both chambers unanimously approved the measure, which was introduced this morning.
Under the package, $250 million would go to state agencies and local governments for federal disaster match requirements, $16 million would be used for lost compensation of school nutrition employees because of school closures, and $2 million would help provide counties with technical assistance for access grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The remaining $5 million would go to the State Board of Elections to help carry out the election next month in the 25 affected counties.
At a press conference with lawmakers before the vote, North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R) said the legislature would return Oct. 24 for a session to consider what other hurricane-related aid is needed. The legislature could also provide more support during brief sessions scheduled for November and December.
“The recovery that is going to have to be done is going to be something that is a Herculean task, but it is something that we will get done,” Moore said.
Moore and Senate Leader Phil Berger (R) met with Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and members of his administration this week to provide a readout of the package and receive input. Cooper is expected to sign the bill.
Late last month, Hurricane Helene cut a path of destruction across six states, with western North Carolina getting the brunt. The storm has killed more than 230 people, with more than 100 coming from North Carolina.
“We’ve lost dozens of North Carolinians to the storm, many more are still missing and unaccounted for,” Berger said. “Lives have been forever altered as a result of this. Areas of many towns are unrecognizable. Some even washed away completely.”
Of the six states affected by the storm, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, North Carolina’s legislature is so far the only one to meet to address the storm damage.
Legislative leaders in South Carolina, which saw the second-highest death toll, decided to wait until January to tackle recovery, allowing federal funds to cover immediate costs. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) said he currently has no plans to call a special session with wind and flood damage repairs done or underway in the state’s southwest.Hurricane relief is also expected to dominate the next session in Florida, which is now facing its second massive hurricane in two weeks.
North Carolina will tap its current $4.75 billion rainy day fund to help pay for hurricane recovery. However, legislative leaders only wanted to expend funds as needed, given that 90% of disaster recovery comes from federal sources.
“No, this is not all of it. Not, not by a long shot,” Berger said. “We don’t want to get too far ahead of the federal government … because we don’t want to supplant those federal dollars with state dollars if we’re not required to.”
The bill also includes a series of policy provisions as lawmakers try to anticipate any legal hurdles to providing aid, including extending the emergency declaration until March 1, waiving Department of Motor Vehicle fees for expired licenses, burning restrictions to help clear debris, wastewater treatment restrictions and road construction constraints.
“The bulk of the money at this point is going to provide some cash flow flexibility for state agencies to do the things that they’re already empowered to do,” Berger said.
Moore cited Avery County officials who tried to establish a disposal facility, but it was prohibited by regulations protecting bats, which had a habitat about a mile away.
“They got it worked out so they’re going to be able to put the debris there,” Moore said. “And so we’re just trying to work through some of the regulatory issues that maybe should not necessarily be delaying things.”
The measure also includes provisions to codify and expand a resolution approved by the elections board to help facilitate voting, including extending the election provisions to 25 counties from the 13 initially cited by the board. The measure also makes it easier to hire poll workers and allows state employees to serve as fill-in poll workers without having to use their time off from work.
Rep. Caleb Rudow (D) offered an amendment to extend voter registration by a week and allow three additional days for absentee ballots to be counted. The bill was defeated 68-44.
“The hurricane has dealt a serious blow to what may very well be the ability to conduct elections in the disaster-related counties, and so the State Board of Elections made a good effort at helping address those problems,” Berger said.