NCGA to Hold Hurricane Response, Recovery Oversight Hearing

Stein admin invited to explain Hurricane Helene recovery process, newly created office

Legislators to receive update from NCORR on its financial mismanagement, ENC recovery status

Raleigh, N.C. — The Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations’ Subcommittee on Hurricane Response and Recovery will meet on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. to hear from the Stein administration about its Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, including how Gov. Josh Stein’s newly created Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) will operate.

The Subcommittee also anticipates hearing updates from the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) about its current financial situation, following a revelation late last year that it would run out of money to finish its work in Eastern North Carolina.

“Simply creating a new group to oversee hurricane recovery will not cure the ills of the previous administration,” Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said. “It’s imperative that the legislature get a good understanding of GROW NC’s operations and plans to ensure Western North Carolina can rebuild and come back stronger than ever.”

“I am looking forward to working with these House and Senate leaders to ensure strong oversight of our hurricane recovery efforts,” said House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell). “The delayed and mismanaged recovery in Eastern North Carolina should have been a national scandal, and we can’t afford any of those failures occurring again in the Helene rebuilding process.”

Since Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, the General Assembly has put nearly $1.1 billion toward response and recovery efforts.

In the middle of the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Gov. Cooper’s recovery agency — NCORR — came to the General Assembly asking for an additional $175 million to complete its efforts in Eastern North Carolina. Since then, the estimated cost has increased to more than $230 million needed to get North Carolinians displaced by Hurricane Florence back into permanent homes. The General Assembly has approved $80 million for NCORR to continue its work.

“It’s unacceptable that we still have North Carolinians waiting to get back home more than six years after Hurricane Florence made landfall,” Subcommittee Co-Chair Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Sampson) said. “I hope Gov. Stein can learn from his predecessor’s failures and work with the General Assembly to improve our state’s recovery framework.”

“NCORR’s handling of hurricane recovery in Eastern North Carolina has been an absolute disaster, causing thousands of families unnecessary pain and suffering,” said Majority Leader Brenden Jones (R-Columbus), House leader of the joint subcommittee. “This General Assembly will continue to hold the executive branch accountable for ongoing problems in Eastern North Carolina and work to prevent similar failures in Western North Carolina.”

Sen. Berger and Speaker Hall appointed the following members to the Subcommittee on Hurricane Response and Recovery:

• Chairs: Sen. Brent Jackson, Rep. Brenden Jones
• Members: Sen. Danny Earl Britt, Jr., Sen. Warren Daniel, Sen. Ralph Hise, Sen. Steve Jarvis, Sen. Julie Mayfield, Sen. Tim Moffitt, Sen. Kandie Smith, Sen. Joyce Waddell, Rep. Eric Ager, Rep. John Bell, Rep. Karl Gillespie, Rep. Zack Hawkins, Rep. Mark Pless, Rep. Mike Schietzelt, Rep. Sarah Stevens, Rep. Shelly Willingham

A livestream of the hearing will be available on the General Assembly’s website.