ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Gov. Josh Stein signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 — Part 1 into law Wednesday, marking the first bill of his administration. Stein was joined by leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly, members of his Western North Carolina Advisory Committee, law enforcement officials and agricultural leaders.
“This funding is a promising step forward in the long road to recovery for western North Carolina,” Stein said in a news release. “I want to thank the General Assembly for working together to pass this critical aid package to help our neighbors rebuilding after Helene. But we are nowhere near done — I will keep pushing to ensure Western North Carolina is not forgotten.”
House Speaker Destin Hall said the legislation will bring much-needed relief to WNC while providing long-awaited aid to storm victims in the eastern part of the state.
“This is the fourth bill we’ve passed for Helene recovery — and it won’t be the last,” Hall said in the news release.
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger praised the General Assembly’s ongoing efforts to address residents’ needs since Tropical Storm Helene hit.
“This bill will make a world of difference for the people of Western North Carolina, and I’m proud to see it become law,” Berger said in the news release. “I look forward to continuing our efforts to support Western North Carolina as it recovers and rebuilds.”
The Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 — Part 1 includes $524 million in aid for WNC. The bill allocates $200 million for farmers who experienced crop losses because of Helene, $120 million for a Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Home Reconstruction and Repair Program and $55 million for local government infrastructure grants to support small businesses.
It also includes $100 million to repair more than 8,000 private roads and bridges damaged by the storm, along with $20 million for debris cleanup. Additionally, the bill provides $9 million for a school extension learning recovery program to assist students in WNC who lost weeks of class time following the storm. The statewide declaration of emergency for Helene was extended until June 30.
In support of eastern North Carolina, the bill allocated $217 million to help residents return to their homes.
With the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene approaching, the Stein administration continues its focus on recovery and rebuilding with urgency, transparency and accountability. Stein recently visited Ferguson Farm in Haywood County and met with North Carolinians in Yancey County who lost their homes and livelihoods after the storm. He continues to advocate for $19 billion in federal funds to restore infrastructure, support home repair and renovation, and reduce impacts from future natural disasters, as well as an extension of FEMA’s 100 percent reimbursement.