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North Carolina Senate approves new $700 million Hurricane Helene relief package
The package includes $480 million for immediate needs, including $75 million to replace private roads and bridges.
RALEIGH, N.C. — On Monday, the North Carolina Senate unanimously approved a $700 million recovery package for citizens in the western part of the state affected by Hurricane Helene.
The approval of House Bill 1012 comes after WCNC Charlotte reported last week that state lawmakers were deadlocked over how to deliver the next wave of Helene relief. In May, the bill passed in the House with only $464 million in aid.
According to a press release, $480 million of the $700 million in funding will go to immediate needs, including:
- $5 million to VisitNC for tourism promotion
- $15 million to the NC Forest Service for wildfire assets and preparedness
- $10 million to repair, modify, or remove dams damaged by Hurricane Helene
- $20 million to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) for state and local parks in the affected area
- $8 million to the Department of Public Instruction for the repair of public school buildings
- $2.47 million for community colleges that experienced enrollment declines in 2024-25 due to Hurricane Helene
- $75 million to repair and replace private roads and bridges; of this, $25 million will be used to reimburse up to 50% of the costs for projects already completed
- $70 million more to continue covering the FEMA state match
- $25 million for unmet local government needs, as well as $15 million for a local government capital grant program for capital projects in the affected area
- $20 million to provide flood mitigation grants for flood mitigation projects and engineering assistance grants through the new Hurricane Helene Flood Mitigation Grant Program
- $15 million to the Office of the State Fire Marshal to provide grants to volunteer fire departments and rescue squads
- An additional $100 million to the cashflow loans for local governments program administered by the State Treasurer.
The press release also says that the bill includes more than $560 million in repurposed Department of Transportation funds for infrastructure recovery needs.