Gov. Stein Seeks $792M for Next Phase of Hurricane Helene Recovery
Governor seeks legislative approval for massive hurricane recovery funding as 2026 storm season approaches.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — Governor Josh Stein is urging North Carolina legislators to approve $792 million in funding for the next phase of Hurricane Helene recovery efforts as the state prepares for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins in six weeks.
The funding request comes as legislators return to Raleigh for the short session, with recovery from the devastating 2024 storm taking center stage nearly 18 months after Helene struck.
Recovery Progress Under Scrutiny
Matt Calabria, director of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, addressed concerns raised by legislators at an oversight meeting in early April about slow progress on home reconstruction. Lawmakers expressed dismay that only 30 single-family homes had been completed through state programs 18 months after the storm.
Calabria clarified Monday that recovery efforts are proceeding through multiple channels, with nonprofit partners using state funds successfully rebuilding or repairing 800 homes. The work represents collaboration between state agencies and community organizations.
“It’s not a matter of the nonprofit sector as separate from the state moving on various work. It’s an integrated effort,” Calabria told reporters after a meeting of the advisory committee on Western North Carolina Recovery.
Federal Funding Challenges
Nonprofit partners and volunteer organizations have been able to move quickly on repairs because they avoid the bureaucratic requirements that constrain state agencies when using federal funds, according to Calabria. This flexibility has allowed community groups to address immediate housing needs while larger reconstruction projects proceed through official channels.
“We understand that they can do things that we can’t, and they understand that for the larger or more complicated projects, the state plays a role that they don’t easily fill,” Calabria said. “One of the roles of GROW NC is to play air traffic controller and make sure that we’re all communicating.”
Massive Damage Requires Federal Support
Hurricane Helene caused $60 billion in damage across 26 North Carolina counties, an amount that doubles the state’s last enacted budget. Calabria emphasized that federal funding remains essential to address the scope of destruction.
Stephanie McGarrah, deputy secretary for community revitalization in the North Carolina Department of Commerce, identified housing shortages as a continuing significant chokepoint in recovery efforts.
The Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina continues coordinating between state agencies, federal partners, and nonprofit organizations as communities work to rebuild infrastructure and housing damaged in the historic storm. The requested $792 million would fund the next phase of reconstruction efforts as the state approaches another hurricane season.
