SE North Carolina News

Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis have authored an opinion piece for the Carolina Journal, outlining the challenges and recovery efforts in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. The hurricane struck on September 27, 2024, causing extensive damage with over 30 inches of rainfall in some areas, leading to floods and landslides that devastated homes, businesses, and community centers.

The senators highlighted the severe impact of the storm, noting that it resulted in at least 102 fatalities and damaged or destroyed approximately 151,000 homes. They also emphasized the ongoing struggle for many communities to restore essential infrastructure such as roads and utilities. As winter approaches, they pointed out that around 20,000 farms face significant crop losses totaling $2.4 billion.

Budd and Tillis stressed the importance of federal support in such natural disasters. They mentioned the US Small Business Administration's (SBA) Disaster Loan Program as a crucial resource for providing low-cost loans to those affected by the storm. However, they criticized recent policy changes by the Biden administration that led to accelerated drawdown rates of this program's funds.

To address these issues, Budd and Tillis introduced bipartisan legislation known as the RELIEF Act. This act aims to replenish funding for the SBA loan program while implementing oversight measures to prevent future operational failures. Despite receiving broad support from Senate colleagues, they expressed frustration over Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's focus on judicial confirmations rather than advancing their proposed relief legislation.

The senators reiterated their commitment to supporting comprehensive disaster relief efforts in Congress. They underscored their dedication to ensuring timely deployment of economic, housing, infrastructure, and mental health resources to aid Western North Carolina's recovery process.

Western North Carolinians are described as resilient individuals who have contributed significantly without seeking government assistance until now. The senators concluded by emphasizing that it is time for federal authorities to reciprocate this commitment by aiding residents during their time of need.