North Carolina Governor Josh Stein on Hurricane Helene Recovery and Funding Needs

Hurricane Helene's Devastation and Recovery Efforts

• 🌪️ Exactly one year after Hurricane Helene, western North Carolina is still grappling with its historic devastation, which claimed 108 lives and displaced tens of thousands.
• 🛣️ The storm damaged 9,400 road sites, leading to over 1,400 road closures, including a critical section of I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge.
• 🛠️ Despite immense challenges, including material transport, NC DOT and its contractors worked through winter to stabilize and reopen I-40 in approximately five months.

Transportation Network Restoration

• 📈 Currently, 97% of all state-maintained roads closed by Hurricane Helene have been reopened, demonstrating significant progress.
• 🌉 Repairs have been completed at over 6,500 sites, including over 500 damaged or destroyed bridges and nearly all damaged pipes and culverts.
• 🌉 Permanent repairs on I-40 are underway, with the goal of full reopening, and temporary bridges are being constructed to facilitate material extraction for reconstruction.

Financial Aid and Funding Gaps

• 💰 The state has secured over $1 billion in recovery funding through legislative bills and significant federal aid, including an additional $1.15 billion from the US Department of Transportation.
• 💸 Despite federal contributions, North Carolina has only received 11% of the total damage cost in federal aid, compared to the average of 50% for other states.
• 📢 Governor Stein is calling on Congress to pass a $13.5 billion appropriation to provide North Carolina with its fair share of disaster relief.

Economic and Community Support

• 💼 The Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative has awarded over $55 million to more than 2100 small businesses to aid in their recovery.
• 🎓 Nearly 50,000 scholarships and grants have been awarded to students in universities and community colleges.
• 🏞️ The state has launched a tourism campaign, "Western North Carolina. Rediscover the unforgettable," to encourage visitors back to the region.

Collaboration and Future Preparedness

• 🤝 Strong partnerships between state agencies, the US Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the US Forest Service have been crucial for efficient recovery efforts, including expedited access to construction materials.
• ⚠️ The state is actively monitoring a new tropical system and holding briefings with emergency management teams to prepare for potential impacts.
• 🏛️ Governor Stein highlighted that shared priorities between state and federal administrations can overcome political differences, emphasizing a focus on the people of western North Carolina.