Hurricane Helene recovery - summary of preliminary damage and needs assessment

The document, prepared by the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, details the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, including record rainfall, landslides, and a 1,000-year flood event.

It reports 96 casualties, over 900,000 power outages, and damage across 39 FEMA-declared counties. Key sectors impacted include housing (with 158,000 households seeking federal aid), transportation (over 6,000 miles of roads and 1,000+ bridges damaged), utilities, agriculture, health services, and education. The total estimated damage and recovery needs amount to $53.6 billion, with only a portion expected to be covered by federal and private sources.

The Governor recommends $3.9 billion in state funding to address critical gaps, focusing on rebuilding stronger, safer, and more resilient communities.