SE North Carolina News

Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, along with Congressman Chuck Edwards, have taken the lead in a bipartisan effort urging President Biden to expedite disaster funding. They are calling on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to "immediately send a supplemental appropriation request to Congress to support the communities we represent, which were devastated after Hurricanes Helene and Milton."

The letter was co-signed by several other members of Congress including Senators Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, Jon Ossoff, and Raphael Warnock; as well as Representatives Richard Hudson, Patrick McHenry, Greg Murphy, David Rouzer, Buddy Carter, and Morgan Griffith.

Hurricane Helene struck on September 26, 2024, followed by Hurricane Milton on October 9. The storms resulted in hundreds of deaths and caused billions in damages. Estimates suggest Hurricane Helene inflicted $250 billion in damage while Hurricane Milton accounted for $50 billion. Approximately 261 lives were lost due to these hurricanes.

The OMB is responsible for coordinating disaster response efforts among states and federal agencies in affected areas. Historically, OMB has responded swiftly; for instance, it sent a request to Congress just a week after Hurricane Harvey's landfall in 2017. However, seven weeks have passed since these recent hurricanes without any such request being made.

"We stand ready to work with you and our Congressional colleagues to pass significant disaster relief so that the road to long term recovery can begin," the lawmakers wrote. "Our constituents do not have the luxury of waiting any longer. They need help now."