North Raleigh Today

Today, Governor Josh Stein signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part 1 into law, marking his first legislative enactment. This event was attended by leaders from the North Carolina General Assembly, members of the Western North Carolina Advisory Committee, law enforcement officials, and agricultural representatives.

"This funding is a promising step forward in the long road to recovery for western North Carolina. I want to thank the General Assembly for working together to pass this critical aid package to help our neighbors rebuilding after Helene,” stated Governor Josh Stein. He emphasized ongoing efforts by saying, “But we are nowhere near done -- I will keep pushing to ensure western North Carolina is not forgotten.”

Speaker Destin Hall highlighted the legislation's impact: “This legislation will bring much-needed relief to western North Carolina while finally bringing long-awaited relief to hurricane victims in the eastern part of our state. This is the fourth bill we’ve passed for Helene recovery-and it won’t be the last.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger noted the collaborative efforts since Hurricane Helene: “Since Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, the General Assembly has come together to address the real-time needs of our citizens. This bill will make a world of difference for the people of western North Carolina and I’m proud to see it become law. I look forward to continuing our efforts to support western North Carolina as it recovers and rebuilds.”

The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1 allocates $524 million in total aid for western North Carolina. It designates $200 million for farmers experiencing crop losses due to Hurricane Helene, $120 million for a CDBG-DR Home Reconstruction and Repair program, and $55 million for local government infrastructure grants aimed at aiding small businesses. Additionally, $100 million is set aside for repairing over 8,000 private roads and bridges damaged by the storm, alongside $20 million allocated for debris cleanup. The bill also includes $9 million dedicated to a school extension learning recovery program designed to assist students who lost weeks of class time due to Helene’s impact. Furthermore, it extends the statewide declaration of emergency related to Hurricane Helene until June 30th. In addition to addressing needs in western regions, $217 million is earmarked for aiding residents in eastern North Carolina.

With one week remaining before marking six months since Hurricane Helene's landfall, Governor Stein's administration maintains a focused approach on recovery efforts with an emphasis on urgency and accountability. Recently visiting Ferguson Farm in Haywood County and engaging with affected residents in Yancey County, Governor Stein continues advocating for federal funds amounting to $19 billion intended for infrastructure restoration and mitigation against future natural disasters along with an extension of FEMA’s full reimbursement policy.