On the eve of Hurricane Helene’s one-year anniversary, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein came to Washington on Thursday to argue that his state has not received its fair share of federal disaster relief. So far, North Carolina has received funding covering only about 9 percent of the storm’s damage costs — far less than the more than 70 percent the federal government covered after Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Maria.
“Families here are still living in temporary housing, small businesses are struggling, and our counties are running out of options,” said one western North Carolina official who traveled with Stein. “It’s about fairness.”
Stein, joined by local leaders from Buncombe, Ashe, Haywood, Madison, and Rutherford counties, met with the Trump administration and members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation to push for an additional $13.5 billion in new funding. That request would bring the state’s total ask to nearly $23 billion.
“It’s been nearly a year since Hurricane Helene, and while we are grateful for every dollar of federal support we have received, we need more,” Stein said after meetings with lawmakers and White House budget director Russ Vought. “I was pleased to advocate for an additional $13.5 billion to strengthen western North Carolina’s recovery, getting folks back in their homes, boosting small businesses, supporting local governments, and repairing critical infrastructure.”
The governor’s plan calls for billions in housing aid, forgivable small-business loans, highway repairs including Interstate 40, and federal loans to keep local governments running. He also urged agencies to release disaster funding already appropriated under the American Relief Act of 2025.
Stein, a Democrat who took office earlier this year, made disaster recovery a central part of his agenda and pressed his case to both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd. While administration officials did not immediately comment, some members of the delegation signaled support for at least parts of his package.
For the communities still struggling to recover from washed-out bridges, shuttered schools, and drained county budgets, Stein argued that the federal government’s response will determine whether western North Carolina can rebuild fully or remain stuck in crisis. “North Carolinians have done their part to recover,” he said. “Now we need Washington to do its part.”
