North Carolina is requesting nearly $13.5 billion from the federal government to further fund Hurricane Helene recovery, a press release from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s office said.
The funding will be used to restore homes and small businesses, support local government services, and rebuild roads and bridges. Stein is traveling to Washington D.C. on Wednesday to meet with officials about getting critical resources to western North Carolina.
“Nearly a year has passed since Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina, and it’s been nearly nine months since Congress last appropriated money toward recovery. Just like folks in the Gulf states, the mid-Atlantic, and Puerto Rico, the people of western North Carolina deserve federal support after a major hurricane, and the time to act is now,” Stein said. “Western North Carolinians are counting on the federal government for help to rebuild homes, support small businesses, and repair roads. I call on Congress to deliver for western North Carolina its fair share and appropriate an additional $13.5 billion in funding for Helene recovery.”
Stein is proposing an $8 billion grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery for small businesses and homes.
The Governor is also requesting $2 billion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency from Special Community Disaster Loans to help fund police, fire protection, revenue collection, hazard insurance, trash collection, and public facilities maintenance.
The request further includes $2 billion from the U.S. Department of Transportation to restore roads and critical infrastructure.
State Sen. Kevin Corbin said the damage caused by Helene, which made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida as a Category 4 Hurricane before moving north and causing massive inland flooding in Georgia and North Carolina, requires additional federal funding.
“I am proud to work across the aisle to advocate for western North Carolina’s recovery, and I urge Congress to pass the state’s request so we can get more resources to communities out west,” Corbin said.
Stein is also asking federal agencies to allocate outstanding funding already appropriated by Congress in the American Relief Act of 2025, which will bring the request to $23 billion.
“We must do everything we can to ensure that western North Carolina can build back stronger,” Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said. “Western North Carolina needs these funds, especially during hurricane season. Congress must pass Governor Stein’s request so that the Hurricane Helene recovery process can continue.”
To date, federal support has covered approximately 9% of the total damage in western North Carolina, according to Stein’s office. He reminded that Hurricanes Katrina, Maria, and Sandy all saw funding cover at least 70% of recovery costs. If the $23 billion request is approved, it would bring federal support for recovery to just 47%.
