Latest news with #HeleneRecovery
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Spartanburg Co. shares new Helene recovery data
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The Spartanburg County Emergency Management is asking residents what the community needs to recover from Hurricane Helene. Emergency Management shared in a media release that newly updated Helene data revealed many members of the community still have a lot of unmet needs. Data from the agency revealed that, as of June 2025, more than 500 properties in Spartanburg County have still not recovered from Helene. These unmet needs can range from tree damage to shorted HVAC systems, but data further shows that a majority of community needs focus on debris assistance and home damage. A majority of people seeking aid are also over the age of 65. 'At this time, there are more unmet needs than resources,' said Emergency Management. To help address community needs, Emergency Management established a new Long Term Recovery Group that is dedicated to Helene Recovery. The group has officially partnered with the Spartanburg County Foundation, United Way and others. For anyone still requiring assistance from Hurricane Helene, Emergency Management asked that they provide information regarding their needs. Spartanburg residents can find the link to share their needs here. Emergency Management asks county members to donate or volunteer with a local non-profit, such as Rebuilding Together, Eight Days of Hope, Team Rubicon and more, if in a well enough position to assist their community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Stein signed a $524 million Helene relief package. Where is the money going?
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The first bill Josh Stein signed into law as North Carolina governor was a Hurricane Helene relief package worth more than $500 million. The package was about half of what Stein originally requested from state lawmakers, but those legislators promised more help is on the way. 'This bill shows that when we work together, we can get really good things done for the people of this state,' said Stein during a bill signing ceremony in Raleigh on Wednesday night. Gov. Josh Stein shares his vision for NC with inaugural State of the State address The biggest portion will go to farmers, $200 million to cover crop losses. $120 million will help pay for a home reconstruction and repair program while $20 million will be used to pay for debris clean up. $9 million will be used to pay for a learning program to make up lost schooling time for students in western North Carolina. Remaining dollars will go toward helping people get rehoused after being displaced by previous storms in eastern North Carolina. House Speaker Destin Hall said the General Assembly is already planning to pass another relief package. 'This is the fourth bill we've passed on Helene Recovery,' Hall explained. 'It's not the last one, passing this today, it's going into law. Tomorrow we'll begin working on the next round of relief for Helene because it's going to be a long recovery with incredible devastation in western North Carolina.' NC Senate passes bill easing concealed carry gun restrictions Western NC is also still waiting on federal aid which will cover the lion's share of recovery costs. Stein said he continues to work with the state's DC delegation to get money to the state. 'It's really complicated because the federal government has appropriated funds but it hasn't allocated funds and even when it has allocated funds, it has not distributed the funds,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NC House passes $500 million Helene Relief Bill
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — The North Carolina House of Representatives passed House Bill 47, known as the 'Disaster Recovery Act of 2025,' with strong support Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. House Bill 47 allocates $500 million for Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Western North Carolina, bringing total relief funding from the General Assembly to more than $1.1 billion. Key funding provisions include: $140 million for rebuilding and repairing homes $150 million to assist farmers and restore farmland $100 million for repairing private roads and bridges $55 million for small business infrastructure grants $20 million to remove millions of cubic yards of debris $10 million to support essential volunteer organizations $10 million for volunteer fire departments $10 million for rental assistance $5 million for travel and tourism marketing 'Ensuring Western North Carolina recovers swiftly and responsibly remains our top priority in the House. For that reason, House Bill 47 is the first legislation voted on and approved this session,' Speaker Destin Hall said. 'I am proud of the work the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery, our Western NC delegation and others accomplished to pass this crucial legislation, and I'm encouraged by the overwhelming support it received today.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Part of I-40 in western NC to open by March; more federal support for Helene Recovery
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — On Monday, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced that Interstate 40 in the western part of the state will reopen two lanes by March 1. This announcement comes after a visit by the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy surveyed Helene Recovery in the area. 'Today, I am pleased to announce that we will reopen two lanes of I-40 by March 1,' Governor Stein said in the statement, 'I am proud of NCDOT's focus on this challenge and the roadworkers who have worked tirelessly to reopen roads and keep people safe. Reopening these lanes will help reconnect North Carolina and Tennessee and allow us to welcome back visitors to bolster the economy.' During Secretary Duffy's visit, he announced that the USDOT and U.S. Forest Services have partnered their efforts to help USDOT obtain a 'special use' permit to use rock from Forest Service land to extract materials. This partnership will allow the N.C. Department of Transportation to get construction materials from nearby rivers in western N.C. instead of transporting them from 20 to 50 miles away. This permit is a commonsense solution to reduce the time it would take to rebuild the highway and significantly cut down on costs 'President Trump directed me to build infrastructure faster, better, and more affordably,' said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. 'That is why, when we recently identified a path to reduce I-40's construction costs and timeline by as much as two-thirds of the original Biden-era estimate, I immediately asked my team what we could do to help. Today's announcement will help ensure we deliver this critical project more efficiently for the American people. Too often, the federal government creates obstacles that slow recovery and drive up costs. This time, we're cutting through those burdensome barriers to get the job done, ensuring USDOT's full support for our state partner's success every step of the way throughout this project.' The federal government will continue to work alongside state and local officials to provide resources and aid to help the western N.C. community recover. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NC House lawmakers consider $500 million for Hurricane Helene relief
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – NC state representatives are considering an additional $500 million for rebuilding efforts in the western portion of the state after Hurricane Helene. Members of the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery met Wednesday to discuss HB 47, a spending proposal that totals less than half of what Governor Josh Stein said is necessary to cover 'immediate needs.' Stein visited the region Monday, calling for $1.07 billion to support urgent rebuilding needs. The short title for the new bill is 'The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part I,' suggesting lawmakers intend to follow the legislation with more action. 4 months later: 18-wheeler cab removed from Swannanoa River as recovery efforts surge following Hurricane Helene Committee co-chair State Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne) said the bill is a framework and 'a step forward' in the House's ongoing response to the devastation. 'We know that no matter what appropriation we're able to do, it's never going to be enough, but this is a starting point, with multiple bills after this to follow,' he said. This is the fourth aid package from the legislature and the largest since October 2024 when elected officials allocated $600 million for the storm-affected counties. The funds are allocated as follows: $150 million for home reconstruction and repairs. $150 million for agriculture restoration projects and assistance. $100 million for private road and bridge repairs and replacements. $60 million for repair of state facilities, including state parks and prisons. $20 million for debris removal unmet needs. $10 million for Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs). $10 million for volunteer fire departments in the affected area. The Republican-backed bill matches Stein's request for home reconstruction but does not include funding for two major business grant programs nor the costs to cover summer school for districts that lost about two weeks of class time. Committee members can make amendments to the proposal when they meet on February 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
