Hurricane Helene’s devastation has greatly impacted North Carolina, and solidarity for those who have been hardest struck by the disaster has brought state lawmakers together across geography and politics.
However, lawmakers in Raleigh hope to hammer out the specifics of such relief next week, including the cost and how it will be implemented.
It is believed that the state has suffered $53 billion in damage, indicating a lengthy road ahead.
As politicians decide how much state aid to provide, the storm’s victims are concerned not only with the relief for their homes, but also with public infrastructure, roadways, and the economy.
“Workers need to return to work. Michele Woodhouse wondered what it would be like for businesses that are critical to the tourism industry to reopen.
Woodhouse is the Republican District Chair in Hendersonville. She also wants politicians to focus on what she describes as a public health issue.
“Buncombe County is currently experiencing a Flint, Michigan 2.0 water crisis. We have youngsters who are unable to wash their hands in school because the water coming from the taps is highly hazardous. “People can’t shower in their own homes,” she explained.
“The county has directed them not to eat food from plates or dishes that may have a little amount of water residue. So there is a national health crisis taking place right here in Buncombe County that is still being disregarded.”
Rod Ashby’s life is riddled with misfortune. Now introduce an unscrupulous scammer into the equation.
Governor Roy Cooper has requested $3.9 billion in state funding for damaged houses, economic relief, and agriculture.
Some Democrats on the committee entrusted with determining disaster relief stated that as they crunch the numbers, western North Carolina recovery should take precedence over some Republican goals such as additional private school vouchers or tax cuts.
“We obviously can’t put up as much as the federal government, but we’ll have to stick with it and assist them recover over the next 10 to 15 years. And that means that some programs, like as vouchers, may need to be put on hold to assist the people of western North Carolina,” Democratic State Rep. Zack Hawkins of Durham stated.
“If necessary, we must take action to ensure that eviction and foreclosure moratoriums are implemented. “We absolutely must do that,” Hawkins continued.
The joint hurricane relief committee will meet Monday at 1 p.m. in Raleigh.