$700 Million Hurricane Helene Recovery Bill Clears N.C. Senate

The North Carolina Senate has unanimously approved a $700 million recovery package to help Western North Carolina continue rebuilding after the devastation left by Hurricane Helene. With this latest bill, the state has now committed more than $2.1 billion to storm recovery efforts.

Much of the credit for the bill’s passage goes to Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, who played a central role in steering the legislation forward. Despite tensions around the broader state budget, Berger remained clear that disaster relief was a top priority. While some lawmakers called for immediate floor action, Berger chose to move the bill through the appropriations process, ensuring a thorough but expedited path to passage before the Senate’s summer break.

“We have indicated all along that we intend to take action on things that are needed for Helene recovery,” Berger said. “We’re going to move the Helene package.”

That commitment became a reality Monday, when House Bill 1012 passed the Senate with unanimous support. The legislation now heads back to the House for final consideration.

The bill includes $480 million in immediate aid for impacted communities. Among the largest allocations: $75 million to repair or replace private roads and bridges, $70 million to continue covering the state’s FEMA match obligations, and $100 million in cash flow loans to assist local governments still grappling with the financial strain caused by the storm.

There’s also support for rebuilding public infrastructure and community services. The package sets aside $20 million for flood mitigation projects, $10 million to repair or remove storm-damaged dams, and $8 million to help repair public school buildings. Community colleges that saw enrollment drops in the 2024–25 academic year due to Helene will receive $2.47 million in support.

Smaller but meaningful allocations include $15 million to improve wildfire readiness through the NC Forest Service, $5 million to help VisitNC promote tourism in the region, and $20 million for state and local park restoration through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

In total, the bill also repurposes more than $560 million from the state Department of Transportation to continue rebuilding critical infrastructure damaged by the hurricane.

The effort has drawn praise from both sides of the aisle, with Western North Carolina senators Ralph Hise, Warren Daniel, Kevin Corbin, and Tim Moffitt issuing a joint statement applauding the package.

“Since Hurricane Helene hit, the General Assembly has been fully committed to supporting the recovery needs of Western North Carolina,” they said. “This package is the latest installment of our commitment to helping our neighbors. There is still plenty of work to be done in the west, and we look forward to working with our colleagues to ensure that our mountain communities can rebuild.”

While debate over the state budget continues, the Senate’s handling of House Bill 1012 shows that when it comes to disaster response, there’s still room for agreement—and results. Thanks to Berger’s steady hand and the Senate’s bipartisan cooperation, help is on the way.