Gov. Roy Cooper signs disaster declaration for town of Dortches after NC tornado damage

DORTCHES, N.C. — Gov. Roy Cooper signed a state disaster declaration on Tuesday for the town of Dortches, which suffered damages from an EF3 tornado on July 19.

The declaration makes more assistance available to the town .

“Having spent most of my life in Nash County, I know the people who live there are resilient and determined to work together to bounce back from this damaging tornado,” Cooper said in a written statement. “This state disaster declaration will help the people and businesses impacted as they recover and rebuild.”

The governor’s order authorizes state-funded disaster assistance in the form of public assistance grants to eligible local governments for debris clearance and emergency protective measures. This disaster declaration expires 60 days after issuance, which means it would expire on Sept. 30.

After state of emergency declarations from Dortches Mayor Jackie Vick and Nash County Board of Commissioners Chair Robbie Davis on July 19, local and state emergency management officials conducted a joint preliminary damage assessment and determined that Dortches has incurred more than $10,000 in disaster-related damages.

The town of Dortches would not qualify for federal assistance based on the preliminary damage assessment.

Cooper’s declaration only applies to people in the town of Dortches. It would would not help families impacted in the city of Rocky Mount or other municipalities in Edgecombe County.

On July 23, Cooper visisted Nash and Edgecombe counties to tour the tornado damage. It caused widespread damage, including destroyed homes, businesses and a Pfizer manufacturing plant.

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