The North Carolina General Assembly plans to vote on disaster relief legislation for areas of the state impacted by Tropical Storm Helene next week, legislative leaders announced on Friday.

The legislature was already scheduled to convene next Wednesday with potential override action on House Bill 10. Now, both chambers are also working to develop a plan to assist Western North Carolina communities in desperate need of aid as a result of historic flooding.

In a joint press release, Speaker of the House Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, and Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said they have heard directly from residents in Western North Carolina and saw the devastation firsthand.

“Our hearts are broken for the communities that have been ravaged by Hurricane Helene,” the state leaders wrote. “The General Assembly is preparing to come back next week to vote on an initial disaster relief package to facilitate the state’s response to Hurricane Helene.”

The two chambers are still working to determine what needs to be included in the legislation, they noted.

“Next week, we will return to Raleigh to take further steps as a legislature, providing additional funding and enacting policy measures to fully support the ongoing recovery efforts,” Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, said in a press release. “While the legislature does not run the recovery operations, we can certainly fuel them, ensuring they move as swiftly as humanly possible.”

Over the past six years, the state has strengthened its financial preparedness for disasters. The State Emergency Response/Disaster Relief Reserve has increased to $733 million, while the Savings Reserve now stands at $4.75 billion. For comparison, when Hurricane Florence hit in September 2018, these reserves were significantly lower at $104 million and $2.01 billion, respectively.

Reacting to the community efforts seen over the past week, they said it has been incredible to watch North Carolinians step up to help. They urged people not to let up on efforts or forget about the small communities that have been effectively closed off due to the storm.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims of this storm and those who have lost loved ones, as well as the aid workers, volunteers, and rescue teams supporting the region,” they said.

The signal for legislative action follows ongoing concerns about the state and government response.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced that Helene’s relief efforts are expected to drain FEMA’s reserves, though the federal agency has spent hundreds of millions to assist illegal immigrants. In fiscal year 2024 alone, FEMA allocated $650 million under the “Shelter and Services Program” to provide humanitarian services to noncitizen migrants following their release from DHS. FEMA predicts that the agency will not have enough funds to make it through hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30.  

SEE ALSO: NC leaders and lawmakers tour Helene’s destruction

In addition to the potential for a disaster relief package at the state level, federal lawmakers are pushing for Congress to reconvene early to pass a federal appropriations package for disaster relief. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd are leading a push by federal lawmakers to pass an appropriations package to support recovery efforts across the states impacted by Hurricane Helene.  

During next week’s one-day session, the General Assembly is expected to vote to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of HB 10, which includes requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE, funding Opportunity Scholarships, and budget adjustments, in addition to the relief funds.