Governor Pat McCrory has asked for a federal disaster declaration for eight counties to help communities repair damaged property and recoup some of the costs related to responding to recent flooding and Hurricane Joaquin.
“The national spotlight has been on South Carolina, but many of our farmers and a number of North Carolina’s coastal communities also have suffered and need our help,”
said Governor McCrory.
“When I toured these flood-stricken areas three weeks ago, I pledged our support. We now have the needed documentation to seek federal aid.”
On October 21, the governor received an agricultural disaster declaration from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to help farmers in 19 counties receive emergency loans for agricultural losses incurred during the heavy rains and flooding.
If approved by the president, the declaration will help local governments in eight counties recover their costs incurred in responding to the storm. Those counties include: Brunswick, Carteret, Dare, Hyde, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico and Pender.
Several back-to-back low pressure systems, a stalled coastal front and moisture from Hurricane Joaquin created an unusual weather pattern that dumped 5 to 20 inches of rain between Sept. 25 and Oct. 5. While South Carolina bore the brunt of the storm, much of North Carolina’s coastal plain and southern border counties saw between 7 and 9 inches of rain in the same time frame with some areas receiving more. The heaviest rainfall amounts were Wilmington (13+"), Tabor City (14+"), Bald Head Island (nearly 15”), Longwood in Brunswick County (18+"), Morehead City (19+”), and Calabash (22+”).
The governor declared a state of emergency Oct. 1 for all 100 counties in anticipation of Hurricane Joaquin. As part of the state’s preparations, he activated the State Emergency Operations Center, deployed National Guard members, pre-positioned swift water rescue teams with helicopters and high clearance vehicles, and alerted the State Highway Patrol to assist with evacuations ordered by local governments. Sixteen North Carolina counties declared a local State of Emergency during this storm while six shelters were opened in Brunswick, Cumberland, Nash, New Hanover, Pamlico and Hyde counties.
Survey teams comprised of county, state, and federal officials spent the past two weeks assessing damages to determine if there was enough to qualify for federal assistance. The teams looked at beach erosion, damaged roads and compromised infrastructure, among other categories. The estimated $31 million in damages exceeds the required federal threshold for North Carolina of $13.4 million. While all costs have not been calculated, damage assessment teams estimate impacted local and state governments will spend:
- Nearly $7 million to provide emergency protective measures
- Approximately $445,000 to remove storm debris
- $600,000 to repair roads, bridges or water facilities
- Nearly $300,000 to repair public buildings and equipment
- $300,000 to repair public utilities
- $23.1 million to repair recreational facilities including beaches