Federal Support Increases for North Carolina Disaster Recovery Efforts
In a significant move to aid North Carolina’s recovery efforts, President Biden has approved a request to increase federal funding for Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation, and Other Needs Assistance to 90%, up from the typical 75% coverage. This decision is anticipated to ease the financial burden on the state for eligible recovery initiatives.
“A complete recovery in Western North Carolina will require an investment of billions of dollars and agreement by the Biden Harris Administration to cover more of the cost is a tremendous boost to our efforts,” stated Governor Roy Cooper. “We will continue working to get more funding into Western North Carolina so we can rebuild our communities in stronger and more resilient ways.”
The increased federal support is expected to have a substantial impact on the pace and scale of recovery projects. NC Emergency Management Director Will Ray highlighted, “As we continue into the recovery phase of this disaster, there will be a significant cost to rebuilding western North Carolina communities and to assist survivors with recovering from Helene. The increased federal cost share provided will allow for state dollars to go further which will expedite many recovery and hazard mitigation projects as we go into 2025.”
Public Assistance funding is crucial for reimbursing state and local government units, as well as certain private and non-profit organizations, for various recovery efforts. These include debris removal, emergency measures during disaster response, infrastructure repairs, utility repairs, and management costs.
Hazard Mitigation funding aims to empower state and local jurisdictions to minimize future damages as they rebuild. This can involve elevating structures in flood-prone areas or allowing property owners to sell their properties if rebuilding is not feasible.
Other Needs Assistance, part of the Individual Assistance Program, covers critical needs arising from the disaster. This includes costs related to medical care, dental services, funerals, personal property replacement, transportation, vehicle repairs, moving expenses, and other approved expenses.
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