NC Gov. Stein Signs New Helene Relief Orders

In his first official action as North Carolina Governor, Josh Stein traveled to Asheville on Thursday to sign five new executive orders for Hurricane Helene relief.

According to WRAL, two orders focus on creating a new state government agency to handle disaster recovery in western North Carolina specifically. The orders also called for an advisory committee for that new agency, made up of local leaders. He’s calling it GROW NC – the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina.

Stein also gave state employees 16 additional hours of paid time off, which can only be used to assist with disaster relief efforts. Additionally, he lifted state purchasing rules that normally constrain state officials when buying products or signing contracts.

While he didn’t lift rules for all situations, Stein did make several targeted changes to speed up the work of rebuilding roads and bridges – particularly those owned by private citizens and groups – as well as the construction of new temporary housing.

Stein said in a statement:

“Winter is here in western North Carolina, and we must act quickly to get people in temporary housing, repair private roads and bridges, and keep people safe. I will do everything in my power to make sure we are both thinking creatively and acting swiftly to help our neighbors recover.”

State Auditor Reacts

Following Stein’s announcement, Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek issued a statement. While he agreed with the Democratic Governor on the urgency of relief and indicated that his and Stein’s staff members worked on some of the new orders, he pointed out the state government’s slow and over-budget efforts to rebuild homes damaged in hurricanes Matthew and Florence under Stein’s predecessor, former Gov. Roy Cooper.

Boliek questioned about where Stein plans to get funding for the temporary housing, as well as how the state will decide who gets priority for receiving those units or repaired roads. He indicates that his office will closely audit Stein’s new agency for disaster relief.

In a statement, Boliek addressed Stein:

“Given past failures to effectively provide hurricane relief to Eastern North Carolina, it is in the best interest of Hurricane Helene victims that our office takes such action. I look forward to collaborating with you, and the other Council of State members, in the future as we work toward a recovery effort that leaves no family behind.”

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