Helene damages in North Carolina total $53 billion, Cooper says

North Carolina suffered an estimated $53.6 billion in damages from Hurricane Helene, Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday, as he outlined his request for more relief money in an unprecedented recovery effort for the western part of the state.

Cooper is asking lawmakers to approve $3.9 billion in state aid, calling it a “down payment on western North Carolina’s future” as communities in the mountains dig out of a disaster that killed 96 North Carolinians and destroyed thousands of homes, miles of roads and dozens of water systems.

Its estimated damages are triple that of Hurricane Florence, which devastated the southeastern section of the state in 2018.

“It is no exaggeration to describe Helene as the deadliest and most damaging storm to ever hit North Carolina,” Cooper said.

The governor’s nearly $4 billion ask comes a day before the General Assembly comes into session, when it is widely expected to consider another round of aid. Earlier this month, lawmakers approved $273 million of relief in what leaders called a “first step” of western North Carolina’s recovery.

That initial aid package prioritized qualifying for FEMA disaster money, as well as helping local election officials prepare ahead of Nov. 5.

This next bundle of money seeks to address widespread damages to housing, infrastructure, utilities and agriculture — made worse by a widespread lack of flood insurance and a major hit to the region’s tourism revenue. And although state officials are estimating the state could receive $13.6 billion in federal aid, it could take months to arrive.

“These counties that don’t have a lot of money anyway, they’re going to need significant help from the state and federal government to recover,” Cooper told reporters at a news conference in Raleigh.

Staffers from Cooper’s office and legislative leaders’ teams have met in recent days to outline the scale of the damage and the state’s request. It remains to be seen how much the General Assembly will choose to appropriate.

“This is just a start,” Cooper said. “This report on Hurricane Helene is the first, but it should not be the last.”

Cooper’s biggest asks: Business grants, housing recovery and aid for farmers

Among the most significant line-items in Cooper’s near-$4 billion budget request is a grant program for small businesses.

Storm-impacted counties account for 45% of the state’s GDP and contain more than half a million businesses. Cooper is asking for $475 million to distribute in grants to those businesses and revitalize a regional economy normally fueled by tourism.

“These businesses need cash, fast,” Cooper said.

The program would focus initially on the hardest-hit counties before expanding to the entire western region impacted by the storm. State officials say that if approved, the program could be up and running quickly.

“This is modeled after a program the Department of Revenue ran during the pandemic,” state budget director Kristin Walker said. “The state knows how to do this, and could get the money out.”

Cooper is also requesting $325 million for housing recovery. The state is expecting to eventually receive federal dollars for housing, Walker said, but it could take up to two years to arrive.

In the meantime, an estimated 126,000 homes suffered damage — and 92.5% of them don’t have flood insurance.

“Private insurance will not be picking up the tab on these things,” Walker said.

A proposal for an additional $150 million would match FEMA aid in the region, which saw a housing crunch even before the storm. More than 55% of the population were experiencing a burden in housing costs before Helene, state officials said.

Also tucked into the budget request is $175 million for ReBuild NC, also known as the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, to address needs in its homeowner recovery program. Inside Climate News reported last week that the agency, which received federal disaster money after Hurricanes Florence and Matthew, has a deficit of more than $150 million.

“We have become aware of this in recent weeks,” Walker said. “It took a while to untangle what the need actually was.”

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said in a statement Wednesday that the agency “blows a hole” in the state budget.

“NCORR leaders have repeatedly tried to cover up their failures at the expense of hurricane victims,” Berger said. “Their attempts to hide problems rather than own up to their incompetence has resulted in a continuing disaster for hurricane victims.”

More than 18,000 farms were impacted by the storm, with less than 10% of them federally insured. Cooper is asking for $225 million to aid farmers, who could spend years regrowing specialty crops.

Also included in the relief package: $100 million in repair needs for public schools and community colleges; $102 million for government facility repairs and renovations; $100 million for water infrastructure needs; and $200 million to address lingering needs from Matthew and Florence.

Gov. Roy Cooper and the Office of State Budget and Management have released a 99-page report assessing the damage and recommended recovery after Hurricane Helene. You can read it in its entirety here.

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