North Carolina Approves $273M Helene Relief Package \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ North Carolina legislators unanimously passed a $273 million relief package aimed at recovery from Hurricane Helene’s devastation. The bill allocates funds for state disaster programs, election flexibility in hard-hit counties, and public services. Lawmakers emphasized that this is an initial step, with more funding and legislative actions to come in the coming weeks.
Hurricane Helene Relief Quick Looks
- North Carolina legislators approved a $273 million relief package following Hurricane Helene.
- The relief bill supports storm recovery, election adjustments, and public services in affected areas.
- Over 238 confirmed deaths were caused by Helene, with more than half occurring in North Carolina.
- The bill allocates $250 million for federal disaster relief matches.
- Additional aid and legislation are planned for October.
Deep Look
In response to the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, North Carolina legislators swiftly approved a $273 million relief package on Wednesday, marking the first major step toward rebuilding and recovery efforts. This relief package, unanimously passed by the House and Senate, is seen as an initial payment to address the massive destruction across the state, particularly in the mountainous regions that were hit hardest by the storm. It provides flexibility for election processes in counties impacted by the hurricane and offers financial support to storm-ravaged communities.
Hurricane Helene, which unleashed historic rainfall, caused widespread flooding and damage across several Southeastern states, but North Carolina bore the brunt of the storm’s fury. Over 238 deaths have been confirmed in the states along the storm’s path, and more than half of these occurred in North Carolina. The flooding devastated communities in the North Carolina mountains, destroying homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Tens of thousands of residents are still without power, and some, including many in the city of Asheville, are without running water weeks after the storm passed.
During the legislative session, members from the hardest-hit regions expressed the emotional and physical toll of the disaster. Senator Ralph Hise, a Republican from Mitchell County, where the water system was completely destroyed, remarked on the unprecedented scale of the devastation. He highlighted the community’s desperate need for immediate help, describing the local water system as “unsalvageable” and estimating that rebuilding would take years without external assistance. “We’ve never seen devastation like this before,” Hise said, his voice cracking with emotion. He thanked his fellow legislators for taking the first steps toward recovery, comparing the relief package to “planting the first seeds in the ground.”
Republican leaders worked closely with Governor Roy Cooper’s administration and election officials to craft the relief package. The bill is seen as an initial measure, and lawmakers have committed to passing additional funding in the near future. The legislature will reconvene on October 24 to address further relief efforts and assess long-term recovery needs. House Speaker Tim Moore acknowledged the enormity of the task ahead, calling the recovery a “Herculean task,” but assured the public that North Carolina would rise to the challenge.
The relief package includes $250 million allocated for state disaster programs, specifically to meet federal matching requirements for state and local disaster assistance. North Carolina’s “rainy-day” fund currently holds $4.75 billion, and an additional $733 million is reserved for disaster response, providing ample resources to support future relief efforts if needed.
Governor Cooper, who has been closely involved in the recovery process, expressed his gratitude for the legislature’s swift action. At a Helene recovery briefing held at the state Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh, Cooper stated, “I appreciate the efforts of the legislature today to pass a bill to aid these communities.” He is expected to sign the bill into law soon.
In addition to disaster relief, the bill contains provisions designed to alleviate the impact of the storm on essential public services. For instance, public school teachers and cafeteria workers in schools closed due to Hurricane Helene will continue to receive their salaries. Fees for replacing lost driver’s licenses and state identification cards will be waived, and certain highway repair and storm debris removal permits will be expedited or waived entirely to streamline the recovery process.
A significant portion of the bill focuses on election-related issues, given the proximity of the storm to the upcoming November election. Early absentee voting was already underway when Helene struck, complicating election logistics in the affected areas. The State Board of Elections had already unanimously approved several rule changes to accommodate displaced voters in 13 counties, but the legislature expanded these adjustments to include 25 counties, aligning with the federal disaster declaration for the region.
Several voting sites in the storm-affected areas were severely damaged or destroyed by the flooding, necessitating alternative voting locations. Early voting will take place from October 17 through November 2, and the bill allows voters in the 25 affected counties to request absentee ballots in person up until the day before Election Day. Additionally, the legislation provides these voters with multiple ways to return their absentee ballots, including dropping them off at any early voting site, county election office, or even the State Board of Elections office in Raleigh. This goes beyond the options initially approved by the state election board. However, all ballots must still be submitted by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
The changes aim to ensure that all voters in the affected areas, regardless of their political affiliation, can participate in the election despite the storm’s destruction. While the counties impacted by these election changes have historically leaned Republican, Asheville and surrounding Buncombe County are strongholds for the Democratic Party.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign released a statement on Tuesday proposing ten measures to protect the voting rights of displaced voters. Many of these suggestions were already included in the relief bill, though one was notably absent. Senator Paul Newton, a Republican from Cabarrus County and co-chairman of the Senate elections committee, emphasized that the changes were primarily based on the bipartisan order issued earlier by the State Board of Elections. He also noted that numerous parties contributed to the legislation. “We just saw the level of devastation and knew we had to make changes for anybody to have a chance of voting in these elections,” Newton said. “That would be true no matter whether it’s red or blue.”
During floor debates, legislators from both parties shared personal stories about the devastation they witnessed in their districts. They also expressed gratitude for the aid pouring in from across the state and beyond. Convoys of supplies, volunteers, and rescue workers have flooded the region, providing vital assistance to those in need. Republican Representative Jennifer Balkcom, who played a key role in opening an aid distribution warehouse in Henderson County, praised the resilience of mountain communities but emphasized that many people still need help. “But people are still needing help even though they don’t ask for it,” Balkcom said. She described the relief package as “a start to help get people what they need,” while acknowledging that more aid will be necessary in the months ahead.
North Carolina Approves
