RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Governor Josh Stein is asking for $20 billion total for Helene recovery in Western North Carolina and he wants $19 billion of that to come from the federal government.
The request from the federal government comes weeks after he asked the North Carolina General Assembly for $1 billion in recovery funding. House members will likely vote on a bill next week that would give $500 million, but they say they’re open to funding more.
Governor Stein says the state needs federal help, though, including an extension on FEMA reimbursements.
“We’ve done about a third of the cleanup and it’s not that the work hasn’t been done, it’s that the amount of cleanup that has to be done in Western North Carolina is without any precedent,” he said.
And to make sure the state gets every federal dollar available, the Governor is working closely with Republican Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, who he says are on board with his request.
“They are aligned with me in trying to make sure we get every resource that North Carolina should get to help folks get back into homes, to have their businesses supported, their downtowns revitalized, local budgets strengthened,” Governor Stein said.
The House planned to vote on their funding bill this week but it was delayed because of the winter storm.
