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Stein to honor North Carolinians killed during Helene, 6 months after historic hurricane
Hurricane recovery has been a focal point of Stein’s agenda since taking office, as he signed a $500 million relief package into law this month.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Thursday marks six months since Hurricane Helene tore through the South, causing devastation from south Florida to western North Carolina and east Tennessee.
Gov. Josh Stein will be in Fairview to honor the lives lost in Helene. The storm is responsible for at least 248 deaths nationwide, including 106 in North Carolina. Another 50 lives were lost to Helene in South Carolina.
Stein and other officials are set to speak at a memorial while also addressing the rebuilding process happening across the western part of the state. The event is scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m. and will be streamed live on WCNC+.
Helene recovery has been a focal point for Stein since he took office in January, including a meeting with President Donald Trump in Asheville. Stein signed a $524 million relief package into law earlier this month after several disagreements on where to allocate the funding. Stein originally requested $1 billion from state lawmakers.
“The storm flooded western North Carolina, stealing too many lives from us and devastating too many communities,” Stein said during his State of the State address. “But in the days, weeks and months that followed, I have seen, we have all seen that the state of our state is strong, North Carolina is strong.”
The final measure omits some programs sought by Stein or underfunds his requests, as Republicans took a more cautious approach. Lawmakers and Stein have said they anticipate more Helene aid to be appropriated in the months ahead.
The funds pale in comparison to the record $59.6 billion in Helene damages and recovery needs estimated by state officials. Stein’s administration projects that disaster relief approved by Congress in December and other federal funding sources may ultimately provide more than $15 billion in Helene recovery funds to North Carolina. Stein is now seeking another $13 billion from Washington.