In a decisive first move as Governor, Josh Stein signed five executive orders aimed at aiding the recovery efforts in western North Carolina following the destruction left by Helene. According to official releases, these actions look to quickly provide temporary housing and expedite the repair of private infrastructure critical to the day-to-day lives of affected residents.
The urgency of Governor Stein's orders stems from the stark reality that over 12,000 people in the region are still without safe housing amidst the harsh winter conditions. In addition, there's a pressing need to swiftly repair or replace approximately 8,000 private roads and bridges to restore essential services like emergency response and transportation for school buses. Governor Stein made it clear he aims to think creatively and act swiftly to support the recovery process, even going as far as to waive certain procurement regulations to speed up the provisioning of temporary housing and repairs.
Stein’s comprehensive approach to tackling the crisis includes the establishment of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC), which will operate directly under his office, and the creation of a Division of Community Revitalization within the Department of Commerce, focused on long-term housing needs and community resilience. Furthermore, the formation of a Governor’s Advisory Committee will provide custom-tailored advice on the recovery process, aiming for efficient and cost-effective solutions.
In a notable measure of support for the recovery efforts, the governor also authorized state employees in North Carolina to take an additional 16 hours of Community Service Leave. This incentive is designed to encourage participation in volunteer activities related to the storm's aftermath.
