BY REP. TODD CARVER

One of my goals upon being elected to the N.C. House of Representatives was to let people know what was taking place in Raleigh and the ways in which it could impact their lives. I plan to hold up my end of that bargain by writing a weekly column, which Iredell Free News has agreed to publish.

This week I want to highlight the compromise that was worked out on the Helene Recovery Bill. This was the first of several smaller bills directed at Hurricane Helene recovery since we started the long session in January. Three other previous bills had been passed in prior sessions, but House Bill 47 was our first attempt at it during the current session. The House’s initial proposal was for $500 million to be allocated for the recovery effort. When the Senate received that legislation, they added a few things they felt were important and the proposal grew to approximately $570 million.

When the legislation came back from the Senate, it was initially rejected by the House of Representatives. A Conference Committee was established to sit down and work out the details. The result of that work group was a $520 million-plus package that was sent to Gov. Josh Stein, who signed the bill into law within hours of receiving it.

The following is a list of resources committed to Hurricane Helene Recovery. The list is not comprehensive but covers most of the main pieces.

• $200 million to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the Agricultural Disaster Crop Loss Program;
• $100 million to NC Emergency Management for the Private Road and Bridges Repair and Replacement Program;
• $120 million to the Department of Commerce, Division of Community Revitalization (DCR), for the Home Reconstruction and Repair Program;
• $55 million for the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program;
• $20 million to state agencies and local government for debris and sedimentation removal;
• $10 million to the Office of the State Fire Marshal to disburse grants to small and volunteer fire departments in counties in the affected area;
• $10 million to NC Emergency Management to disburse grants to volunteer organizations;
• $9 million to the Department of Public Instruction for the School Extension Learning Recovery Program; and
• $4 million for targeted media campaigns to encourage both in-state and out-of-state tourists to return to areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The intent of the N.C. General Assembly is to provide multiple installments of relief in smaller but more manageable chunks. This will allow for the oversight to ensure these funds are going to the appropriate agencies and communities where the need is greatest. We have a great deal of work yet to accomplish in western North Carolina, but this funding is a step in the right direction.

I look forward to working with the representatives from western North Carolina to see what next steps are needed to make the best of this very bad situation. Please continue to pray for our neighbors in the affected area.

Rep. Todd Carver represents the 95th District in the N.C. House.