NC governor blasts FEMA's refusal to reimburse the state for Helene debris removal

Joe Marusak, The Charlotte Observer on May 24, 2025

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein criticized FEMA’s denial Thursday of the state’s request to extend 100% federal reimbursement of Hurricane Helene debris removal costs.

North Carolina taxpayers will be on the hook for “potentially hundreds of millions of dollars” to clean up Western North Carolina, Stein, a Democrat, said in a statement Friday.

“So far, we have removed more than 12 million cubic yards of debris from roads and water ways, but given the immense scale of the wreckage, we have only scratched the surface,” Stein said.

Helene caused $59.6 billion in damage and needs in the state, former Gov. Roy Cooper said in a revised estimate report in December.

In Thursday’s letter to Stein, FEMA official David Richardson gave no reason for the denial.

Richardson said only that FEMA concluded the extension “is not warranted.” The decision, he said, followed “a careful and thorough review of all the information available, including that contained in your initial request for a cost share adjustment and appeal.”

Stein said money the state must now pay to remove debris “will mean less money towards supporting our small businesses, rebuilding downtown infrastructure, repairing our water and sewer systems, and other critical needs.”

Stein said he continues to urge the Trump administration and Congress to send $19 billion to the state for disaster relief — $11.5 billion in new appropriations and $7.5 billion from previous appropriations.

Despite FEMA’s rejection, “we are going to stay the course,” Stein said. “We will keep pushing the federal and state governments to do right by Western North Carolina.”

The governor on Monday released his second state Hurricane Helene budget proposal of $891 million. He said the money would “spur economic recovery, strengthen critical infrastructure and get people back into their homes.”