Last Updated on June 13, 2026 6:54 pm
WASHINGTON — Governor Josh Stein traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to press members of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation for more than $10 billion in additional federal funding to continue Western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.
Stein was joined by state Senator Kevin Corbin during meetings on Capitol Hill on June 10.
“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 said. “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.”
Where the $10 billion would go
Stein’s June 2026 funding request breaks down as follows:
- $3.07 billion to repair and rebuild damaged homes and recover lost housing stock
- $3.05 billion to rebuild local infrastructure such as dams and municipal roads
- $1.56 billion to support economic recovery
- $1.03 billion to rebuild and strengthen water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure
- $600 million to support local governments and communities
- $560 million to repair federal highways
- $300 million to restore private roads and bridges
The updated request is $3 billion less than Stein’s previous ask, which the governor’s office attributed to federal and state dollars already awarded and revised damage estimates. The housing and water infrastructure portions of the request grew, however, reflecting continued unmet needs and what the state described as proven effectiveness in deploying those funds.
How the money has been spent so far
According to the governor’s office, North Carolina has allocated roughly $2.4 billion in direct state appropriations to Helene recovery — including $395 million to match federal dollars — more state funding than for any past disaster in North Carolina history. State agencies have also redirected more than $2 billion of existing funds toward Helene recovery, much of it in advance of expected federal reimbursement.
Private insurance has paid out about $5 billion. Nonprofit and philanthropic partners have contributed at least $1.4 billion. The federal government had awarded $8.3 billion as of May 15.
Even with that combined response, the state pegged Helene’s total estimated damages at nearly $60 billion — a gap that Stein argued requires continued federal commitment.
Housing pipeline and water projects
The state’s federally funded housing program got off the ground faster than any state hit by a major hurricane in more than a decade, according to the press release. More than 1,000 homes have been repaired or rebuilt, and more than 2,800 additional homes are in the RenewNC program pipeline.
North Carolina was also the first state to award its share of the Environmental Protection Agency’s State Revolving Fund allocation for Hurricane Helene, funding 127 water and sewer projects totaling $645 million.
Stein’s prior trips to Washington
This is not Stein’s first push for additional federal Helene aid. In January, the governor met with then-acting FEMA Administrator Karen Evans to thank her for the approval of some Hazard Mitigation Grant Program applications and ask for continued collaboration. In February, Stein visited the White House to ask President Donald Trump for more federal funding for Western North Carolina. In March, he proposed a third Helene recovery budget at the state level.
Stein’s full letter to North Carolina’s Congressional delegation is available at governor.nc.gov.
