Governor Cooper to reveal crucial disaster recovery plan for Hurricane Helene relief Wednesday

Governor Cooper and the State Budget Director are set to announce their recommendations for disaster recovery funding on Wednesday, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

The two will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. at the Albemarle Building.

As the need for assistance grows, many are eager to learn what relief efforts to expect.

The storm, one of the worst natural disasters in the state’s history, has fostered a rare sense of bipartisanship, even during an election year.

State lawmakers swiftly passed a $273 million disaster relief bill to address the damage in western North Carolina, but it’s clear that more funding is necessary.

Senator Kevin Corbin, R-Macon, who has witnessed the destruction firsthand, spoke about the enormous costs of recovery.

When asked how much it would take to repair the region, Corbin acknowledged the uncertainty but emphasized the scale of the damage.

“That’s the question of the day. I’ve talked with budget officials, and no one has a definitive figure yet. But I can tell you, it’ll be in the hundreds of millions, and I think we might even be talking about billions,” Corbin said.