In Washington DC on Wednesday, Gov. Josh Stein, along with state Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon, met with North Carolina’s congressional delegation to seek more than $10 billion in additional federal funding for western North Carolina’s Hurricane Helene recovery.
This was the governor’s fourth trip to DC since September to request additional funding. It comes the same week that US Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC; and Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-NC11 announced a funding package that includes more than $267 million in FEMA Public Assistance grants for 65 projects and more than $30 million through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The awards support debris removal, road and bridge repairs, utility restoration, water and sewer infrastructure projects, emergency response costs, and long-term flood mitigation efforts across western North Carolina.
“North Carolina is grateful for every dollar the federal government has put toward Hurricane Helene recovery, and we’re putting those dollars to work,” Stein, a Democrat, said in a press release. “I am encouraged by today’s meetings with North Carolina’s congressional delegation, and I look forward to working with them to deliver more federal resources to western North Carolina. The people of western North Carolina are working hard on their recovery. Their state and federal government need to do their parts.”
North Carolina is grateful for every dollar the federal government has put toward Hurricane Helene recovery, and we’re putting those dollars to work. I am encouraged by today’s meetings with North Carolina’s congressional delegation, and I look forward to working with them to… pic.twitter.com/5li20F3nxX
— Governor Josh Stein (@NC_Governor) June 10, 2026
Hurricane Helene caused an estimated $60 billion in damage in western North Carolina in September 2024, the costliest natural disaster in state history.
Although the latest request is $3 billion less than his previous request in September, the state’s housing and water infrastructure request is increased from the previous request due to ongoing needs. That includes $3.07 billion to repair and rebuild damaged homes and recover lost housing stock, and $1.03 billion to rebuild and strengthen water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
He told lawmakers in a letter that only approximately 14% of total estimated damages have been covered by federal funding covered as of March 31.
In his letter to the delegation, the governor said that through state and federally funded efforts, more than 1,000 homes have been repaired or rebuilt, and more than 2,800 others are in-process, a far cry from 56,000 damaged and destroyed homes that remain in the area. He also pointed out that roughly 2,100 applicants remain unserved in the state’s current single family housing program.
Stein added that North Carolina was the first state to award its share of the EPA State Revolving Fund allocation for Hurricane Helene, funding 127 water and sewer projects totaling $645 million, but eligible water and wastewater investments of at least an additional $655 million remain unfunded.
Funds for dams, roads, bridges, local communities and economic recovery were also part of Stein’s latest ask.
The governor has also requested $792 million in additional state funding from the General Assembly as part of a third-phase recovery budget proposal.
In September, Stein and local officials from Buncombe, Ashe, Haywood, Madison, and Rutherford counties traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with the Trump administration and members of Congress about his request for an additional $13.5 billion in funding for Hurricane Helene recovery.
He also met with acting FEMA Administrator Karen Evans in January to give thanks for the approval of some Ha
During his January visit, Gov. Stein also met with acting FEMA Administrator Karen Evans to express his gratitude for the approval of some Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) applications and ask for continued support. In February, he visited the White House and asked President Trump to support additional federal funding.
Stein’s latest request comes as FEMA recently approved another $297 million in disaster recovery and mitigation funding for North Carolina communities.
The latest funding package includes more than $267 million in FEMA Public Assistance grants for 65 projects and more than $30 million through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The awards support debris removal, road and bridge repairs, utility restoration, water and sewer infrastructure projects, emergency response costs, and long-term flood mitigation efforts across western North Carolina.
The announcements represent one of the largest single batches of recovery funding approved since the storm struck in September 2024.