Unmet needs listed
By From staff reports
Published in News on May 11, 2017 9:57 AM
The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has allowed for only $6.1 million of the $600 million in the disaster relief package sought by Gov. Roy Cooper.
The HUD request was for Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief for housing repair/renovation.
The remaining requests in Cooper's $929 million total package included appropriations from other purposes/agencies, such as for agriculture.
In December, HUD allocated an initial $198 million down payment for long-term disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. As is common practice with major disasters, that initial allocation was followed by a more comprehensive request addressing pressing unmet needs, a spokesman in Cooper's office said.
Hurricane Matthew caused an estimated $4.8 billion in damage across central and eastern North Carolina.
So far, $1.4 billion in state and federal funds have been allocated, including the initial HUD grant in December.
The unmet needs request includes:
* Housing repairs: $166.6 million to help homeowners with repairs, $63.7 million to repair rental housing, and $15.2 million to repair public housing.
* Housing elevation: $434 million for buyout, elevation and reconstruction of 3,962 properties that flooded during Matthew and are at risk for future flooding.
* Agriculture: $92.6 million to cover losses for farmers not covered by the USDA such as livestock, farm equipment and feed.
* Public facilities: $43 million to repair public facilities and retrofit infrastructure like storm drains and sewer lines to prevent future damage.
* Small businesses: $39 million to help 691 small businesses.
* Health: $37 million to support health and mental health services for storm survivors and to help with repairs to health care facilities, child care centers and social services agencies.