
Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus) made clear the imperative to get relief to Western North Carolina in Wednesday’s Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations Hurricane Response and Recovery Subcommittee hearing: “Don’t follow the Cooper playbook of excuses and delays. Move the money. Rebuild the homes. Report every dollar. This General Assembly will not allow another ‘Hurricane Cooper’ to drag on while families suffer.”
Jones asked pointedly, “Should we really, in the state, be in the housing business?” and instead rely on groups like Baptists on Mission “that can move way faster than state government.” Other members of the subcommittee echoed Jones’ sentiment as did representatives from Gov. Josh Stein’s administration and from local governments who testified to the committee.
Matt Calabria, director of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC), Stephanie McGarrah, deputy secretary at the Division of Community Revitalization (DCR), and Jonathan Krebs, Western North Carolina recovery advisor cited the $28 million for home and private road and bridge work the General Assembly had already appropriated to Baptist on Mission, Habitat for Humanity, and other volunteer organizations active in disaster (VOADs).

“Expanding on those missions will continue to demonstrate quick progress, but it’s very much dependent on state funds because the federal funds will not move that fast,” Krebs said.
Samaritan’s Purse and other privately funded volunteer organizations began swinging hammers and getting residents back in their homes just weeks after the storm. Luther Harrison, vice president of North American ministries for Samaritan’s Purse, said the organization had distributed 20,000 $250 gifts cards, made mortgage payments for families, delivered 17 mobile homes and 40 newly built homes, plus campers, cars, home repairs and furnishings. Harrison said not taking government money meant there was “no red tape, no restrictions, no reporting.”
In contrast, the state homeowner recovery program had repaired one home in early September, started work on a second home the day of the hearing, but was yet to begin construction on any new homes. McGarrah told the committee she hopes to have the first new-build completed in January.
Avery County Commissioner Dennis Aldridge and Yancey County Manager Lynn Austin told the committee that delayed reimbursements and changing-goalpost regulations are their biggest hurdles in recovery. They praised the $150 million cashflow loan program administered by State Treasurer Brad Briner.
Because the loans use state funds, Briner said his office could make the application simple and get the money out faster. “Time,” he explained, “is the biggest cost for everyone.”
On the anniversary of one of the deadliest, costliest natural disasters to hit North Carolina, Harrison said, “The grieving is still heavy in these communities.”
Rep. Jones, again, charged the governor’s team to not follow in Gov. Cooper’s “failed footsteps” and pledged the legislature’s commitment to Western North Carolina.
“To the families of Western North Carolina,” he concluded, “you are not forgotten. This General Assembly will stay in the fight until every home is rebuilt, every dollar is accounted for, and every promise is kept.”