North Carolina has opened three N.C. National Guard (NCNG) staging areas and five shelters in preparation for Hurricane Irma, Governor Cooper said today. The National Guard is positioning soldiers and equipment in Greensboro, Charlotte and Asheville. Gov. Cooper visited the Greensboro site Sunday.
Nonprofits operating in 13 hard-hit North Carolina counties will get $810,000 to help volunteers rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Matthew, Governor Roy Cooper said today during a visit to Robeson and Columbus counties.Gov. Cooper announced the grants while visiting a flood-damaged home in Lumberton that was rebuilt by volunteers with the United Methodist Church.
Today, Governor Roy Cooper signed an executive order declaring a Type 1 disaster in Sampson County and the contiguous counties of Bladen, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Johnston, Pender, and Wayne.
The disaster declaration authorizes state emergency assistance grants to be dispersed to individuals and families in affected areas.
On May 30, 2017, Sampson and surrounding counties suffered damaging straight-line winds from severe thunderstorms. Residents in the area reported damaged or destroyed homes and businesses, downed trees, obstructed roads, and farm damage.
Governor Roy Cooper has received the U.S. Small Business Administration disaster declaration he requested to help residents and business owners in southeastern North Carolina recover from the straight line winds and severe storms that struck Sampson County May 29.
“This was a powerful storm that pounded Sampson County, damaging homes, farms and other businesses,” Governor Cooper said. “Local officials responded to the storm immediately and are doing an excellent job leading the initial recovery efforts. Now the community needs our help to recover.”
Governor Roy Cooper encouraged continued collaboration to secure additional federal funding for Hurricane Matthew recovery in a meeting held yesterday with members of North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation. Gov. Cooper met with Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis and Representatives Adams, Butterfield, Foxx, Holding, Hudson, Price, McHenry, Meadows, Pittenger, Rouzer, and Walker.
Mike Sprayberry, NC Emergency Management Director and Dempsey Benton, Director of the Governor’s Hurricane Recovery Office will meet with local officials to discuss progress in recovery from Hurricane Matthew and visit several properties damaged by the flooding.
Governor Cooper today expressed his disappointment in the Trump Administration and Congressional leadership after they failed to fulfill North Carolina’s funding request for Hurricane Matthew recovery. In a letter, Cooper urged for more robust aid, especially in the form of housing block grants from HUD, in the upcoming budget process. That letter can be read here.
With many communities still recovering from Hurricane Matthew, Governor Roy Cooper today reminded North Carolinians to get ready for another hurricane season.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 and to encourage residents to prepare, Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed May 7-13 as Hurricane Preparedness Week.
In observance of National Volunteer Week, Governor Roy Cooper joined Habitat for Humanity in Fayetteville today to help repair a home damaged by Hurricane Matthew. Gov. Cooper also signed into law House Bill 5, extending the unemployment benefits for survivors of natural disasters.
The North Carolina Baptists On Mission is one of many faith-based and nonprofit organizations participating in the cleanup and rebuilding after Hurricane Matthew devastated the 50 central and eastern counties. What sets this group apart is that the Baptists’ plan to repair or rebuild at least 1,000 hurricane-damaged homes within two years.
The mission relies solely on volunteers to complete the work. So far, 17 homes have been repaired or rebuilt.