Gov. Josh Stein’s focus from day one was the needs of western North Carolina’s citizens in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction.

“It’s going to take years to fully recover, and it’s going to take all of us,” Stein said in a recent interview on Capital Tonight. “It’s going to take not only these local folks but also the state a federal government as partners to help them, and it’s my job as governor to try and help these folks.”

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Josh Stein continues to work with members of the General Assembly and federal lawmakers to get funding for returning western North Carolina to normalcy

  • There may be a new Governor, but there’s also a new House Speaker he has to work with in Speaker Destin Hall, and parties want different things

  • Damage estimates are estimated at $60 billion, some of which will just be have to be lost, Stein said
  • Lawmakers agreed to $528 million, about half of Stein's $1 billion request, but mentioned future funding

  • Watch the full interview

A big part of his responsibilities have been negotiating with leaders in the General Assembly to make sure a funding relief bill covers everything he and fellow Democrats say is needed to help western North Carolina.

Last month, Stein asked the GOP-controlled legislature for over $1 billion in funding.

Along with a new governor, but there’s also a new house speaker replacing former Rep. Tim Moore.

House Speaker Destin Hall said last week his priority was focused on agricultural losses and housing reconstruction from past hurricanes for people from eastern North Carolina.

Hall, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and Stein all must work together to make sure money from state relief funding bills get to the right people. Lawmakers and Stein understand, like Hurricane Katrina where some impacted areas are still undergoing repairs today, western North Carolina will take years to rebuild. Stein just hopes it takes a few years less, he said.

The final package, worked out by state House and Senate Republicans, came out to $528 million to take care of urgent Helene needs, including $327 million for past storm recovery. Many communities in the east are still rebuilding from hurricanes Matthew and Florence.

“I want to thank the General Assembly. They didn’t do all that I asked them to do, but they got us started,” Stein said.“I want to thank the General Assembly. They didn’t do all that I asked them to do, but they got us started,” Stein said. He and lawmakers hinted at more Helene funding in the months ahead.

Stein has also made trips to the nation’s capital, hoping to get federal funding assistance as well.

“We just want to make sure North Carolina gets its fair share,” he said. “We’re talking numbers, we’re talking dollars, but what I’m really talking about are its people.”

He met with U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd to make sure they understood the urgency, adding they told him they were doing everything they can.

“I asked for $19 billion. About $11.5 in new appropriations, $7.5 in allocations. And a big chunk of that is housing,” Stein said.

And it’s warranted. Damage estimates are estimated at $60 billion — twice the state’s annual budget. The gap in funding, Stein believes, will come from private insurance. 

Some things are still up in the air, given how President Donald Trump and his administration will handle FEMA, Stein added.

“We can never make people whole,” Stein said. He added that he will do his job to the best of his ability regardless of who’s in power to fight for the people in this state.

“We have got to make sure that we are focused with urgency, with focus, with transparency and with accountability,” Stein said. 

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