Hurricane Helene damage estimated at $53bn, as US relief bill passes | News of Heaven

North Carolina lawmakers have passed nearly $900m in disaster relief, but that’s still far short of the potential costs.

Lawmakers in the state of North Carolina have already passed about $900m in Hurricane Helene relief, but say that is a preliminary figure as the final bill is still being calculated.

State lawmakers unanimously passed $604m in additional funding on Thursday, up from $273m previously approved.

But the flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina last month is likely to cause at least a record $53bn in damage and recovery needs, the state’s Governor Roy Cooper announced yesterday.

If confirmed, this figure would make Helene the 10th costliest weather disaster in the United States since 1980, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The estimate only includes damage in North Carolina, but Helene devastated parts of several states in the US Southeast, killing 214 people, so the final cost could be higher.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation estimates that Hurricane Helene caused $13.4bn in insurance losses in the state as of October 17.

Cooper said he requested an initial package of $3.9bn to begin rebuilding efforts, mainly involving critical infrastructure, homes, businesses, farms and schools in North Carolina damaged by Helene.

‘A good start’

“Helene is the worst and worst hurricane to ever hit North Carolina,” Cooper said Wednesday as he presented his spending request to the General Assembly.

“These initial funds are a good start, but the staggering amount of damage shows that we are at the tail end of this recovery effort,” he added.

Cooper told reporters that the state’s previous record for hurricane damage was $17bn for Hurricane Florence, which hit eastern North Carolina in 2018.

Helene and its aftermath caused 1,400 landslides and damaged more than 160 water and sewer systems, at least 9,650 kilometers (6,000 miles) of roads, more than 1,000 bridges and culverts and an estimated 126,000 homes, it said. budget office.

An estimated 220,000 families are expected to apply for government assistance.

The damage report estimates $48.8bn in direct or indirect damages, and $4.8bn in expected mitigation costs. The budget office estimates the federal government will pay $13.6bn, with private and other sources making up $6.3bn.

Most of the losses will never be recovered, lawmakers said, because few homeowners and farmers in disaster areas had flood or crop insurance.

About 93 percent of homes with flood damage certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) do not have flood insurance, the report said.

Cooper’s request includes $475m for a program to restore businesses in hard-hit areas, $225m in grants to farmers for uninsured losses; and $100m for public school and community college funding needs.

Cooper is also seeking $325m to help homeowners and renters with immediate rebuilding and minor repairs while implementing a major program that relies on federal funding.

The death rate has decreased

North Carolina state officials reported 96 deaths in Helene, which brought the highest levels of rain and flooding to the mountains in late September.

The death toll was lowered after one of the worst-hit regions reported more than 30 deaths. Buncombe County, which reported 72 deaths, reduced the toll to 42.

Because of this, the Associated Press adjusted its Helene count to 214.