RALEIGH - Rep. Garland Pierce offered his support to Governor Cooper’s $1.5 billion plan for Hurricane Florence Recovery to help those in need.
Preliminary estimates put the damage at $13 billion, but that includes losses covered by insurance or federal programs.
The damage statewide is greater than storms of the past like Matthew ($4.8 billion) or Floyd ($7 - $9.4 billion).
Rep. Pierce noted: “We have a lot of people and a lot of businesses hurting right now. Governor Cooper’s proposal will help our area recover. It is also important we rebuild with future storms in mind to prevent future loss of homes, businesses, and other infrastructure.”
The Governor’s recommendations include the following highlights:
• $176 million for a Homeowner Repair and Rehabilitation Fund to help homeowners and renters
• $180 million for the State Acquisition and Relocation Fund to buyout, acquire and reconstruct homes outside the 100-year floodplain
• $50 million for the Housing Finance Agency to address the shortage of affordable housing
• $12 million for the Back@Home Rapid Rehousing Program
• $20 million for small business loans and grants
• $5 million in assistance for Historically Underutilized Businesses
• $200 million for the NC Farmer Recovery Reinvestment Program to help farmers
• $75 million for the NC Farmer Resiliency Fund for hog farm buyouts and incentives to convert open lagoons
• $12 million in Commercial Fishing Assistance
• $25 million for Wastewater and Drinking Water Grants to promote resiliency to help systems withstand future storms
• $25 million to Golden LEAF to provide infrastructure grants to restore water and sewer systems and repair storm drainage systems
• $25 million to the Clean Water Management Trust Fund for flood abatement and surface water quality protection and improvement
• $5 million for a Dam Repair Cost Share Fund
• $88 million for flood-mapping projects, flood mitigation studies and planning
• $14 million to the City of Lumberton to support floodgates for the VFW Road underpass
• $25 million to help local governments with an Emergency Repairs and Renovation Reserve
• $25 million to Golden LEAF to help local governments repair and rebuild government facilities
• $50 million to leverage federal transportation money to build more resilient roads to mitigate effects of extreme weather
• $25 million in Flexible Emergency Funding for Public School Operations
• $10 million for Stay-in-School Assistance to help university and community college students
• $47 million for Mental Health Services
• $3 million for Substance Use Treatment Programs
• $10 million to establish the Office of Recovery and Resiliency to streamline recovery programming and assistance
• $13 million to Department of Environmental Quality to address critical operational support and staffing for responding to and recovering from disasters
• $10 million in Rebuilding and Capacity Grants to help financially distressed local governments to support two-person rebuilding teams
• $10 million in Emergency Financial Assistance Grants for local governments that need immediate cash flow assistance
• $24 million in Cash Flow Assistance to Distressed Agencies to help when federal awards greatly exceed small, local government operating budgets and cash reserves
The General Assembly returns to session on October 15 to consider the Governor’s request. “I look forward to working with Republican legislative leaders and with Governor Cooper to make sure we do the right thing for the people in Scotland and Hoke counties who are recovering from the storm,” noted Rep. Pierce.
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