North Carolina Estimates Hurricane Helene Damages at Over $53 Billion

REPORT, NIGERIA NEWS 247 – The catastrophic flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina is estimated to have resulted in at least a record $53 billion in damages and recovery needs, according to Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration. This preliminary figure, generated by the state budget office, encompasses both direct and indirect damages, as well as necessary investments to mitigate future storm impacts.

During a press conference, Cooper described Hurricane Helene as “the deadliest and most damaging storm ever to hit North Carolina,” surpassing the previous record of $17 billion in storm damage set by Hurricane Florence in 2018. He has requested $3.9 billion from the General Assembly to fund repairs and revitalization efforts, calling this amount a “down payment for western North Carolina’s future.”

The storm has tragically claimed 96 lives and caused historic levels of rain and flooding in the mountains. Its aftermath included 1,400 landslides and significant damage to over 160 water and sewer systems, at least 6,000 miles (9,650 kilometers) of roads, more than 1,000 bridges and culverts, and an estimated 126,000 homes. Approximately 220,000 households are expected to seek federal assistance.

“This jaw-dropping damage figure reminds us that we are very much on the front end of this recovery effort,” Cooper stated.

The damage report was released just ahead of a planned one-day session by the Republican-controlled legislature to advance further recovery legislation. Two weeks prior, lawmakers had unanimously approved a $273 million recovery package that included provisions for state agencies, displaced residents, and officials managing elections in the affected western counties. Currently, 39 of the state’s 100 counties are designated within the federally declared disaster area.

North Carolina’s state budget includes several billion dollars available for future recovery spending, with nearly $4.5 billion in the state’s savings reserve alone. As of late Wednesday afternoon, legislative leaders had not disclosed the specific measures they would pursue in Thursday’s session, as they continued to review Cooper’s funding request.

The damage report projects $48.8 billion in direct or indirect damages, alongside $4.8 billion in anticipated mitigation expenses. The budget office estimates that the federal government will cover $13.6 billion, while private and other sources are expected to contribute $6.3 billion. However, state officials caution that a significant portion of the losses may never be recovered. Notably, nearly 93% of homes with verified flood damage lacked flood insurance, which could limit the recovery for many homeowners and farmers.

Cooper’s funding request includes $475 million for a two-phase recovery program aimed at assisting businesses in the hardest-hit areas, offering grants ranging from $1,500 to $50,000 in the first phase, and up to $75,000 in the second phase. Other key components of the request include $289 million in matching funds for utility repairs and debris removal, $225 million in grants for farmers facing uninsured losses, and $100 million for capital needs in public schools and community colleges.

Additionally, Cooper is seeking $325 million to assist homeowners and renters with immediate rebuilding and minor repairs, while waiting for federal funding for a larger program. Following past hurricanes, it took nearly two years for federal community development block grants for home repairs to arrive, highlighting the urgency of immediate aid.

The request also aims to cover a $175 million shortfall related to repairs from Hurricane Matthew and Florence, a gap attributed to rising construction costs, labor shortages, and a congressional appropriation that was significantly lower than what the state had requested. This prompted criticism from leading Senate Republicans, who indicated that an oversight committee would investigate the timing and management of the recovery funds.