North Raleigh Today

Today marks six months since Hurricane Helene caused significant devastation in western North Carolina. Governor Josh Stein visited the area, honoring the 106 lives lost in the natural disaster and reiterated his commitment to the region's recovery.

“Six months ago today, Hurricane Helene swept through western North Carolina and forever changed our state,” Governor Stein stated. “106 lives were tragically lost in the wake of Hurricane Helene, and their families and communities will forever grieve their absence. Today, we honor their legacies and recommit to supporting our neighbors every step of the way as they work to rebuild western North Carolina.”

During his visit, Governor Stein met with families who lost loved ones. He also engaged with firefighters at the Fairview Fire Department to celebrate Tony Garrison, a volunteer battalion chief who, alongside his nephew Brandon Ruppe, died while trying to rescue individuals from a mudslide. Governor Stein expressed gratitude to the emergency personnel who responded to the hurricane's devastation and signed a proclamation in remembrance of those lost.

Governor Stein has been actively involved in pushing ongoing relief efforts. He recently submitted a final Action Plan for distributing $1.4 billion awarded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Notably, this submission was the fastest by any state following a major hurricane in a decade.

Additionally, the Governor recently signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1, allocating $524 million in aid for the area. This bill includes $120 million for a CDBG-DR Home Reconstruction and Repair program, $55 million for local government infrastructure grants, $100 million for private road and bridge repair, and $20 million for debris cleanup.

Stein also advocates for $19 billion in federal funds for infrastructure restoration, home repair and renovation, and measures to mitigate future natural disasters. In a supportive move, FEMA granted the Governor's request for 30-day extensions on both the Public Assistance and Individual Assistance programs.

For ongoing updates, residents can check the progress on the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina’s recovery dashboard.