WASHINGTON – Today Congressman Robert Pittenger sent the following update to local leaders regarding the latest on Hurricane Matthew funding, along with assurances from Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen that more help is on the way:
Thus far from FEMA, North Carolina has received:
- $100.8 million in Small Business Administration loans
- $97.5 million in Individual Assistance
- $195.4 million from the National Flood Insurance Program
- $104.7 million in Public Assistance projects
With additional projects in the pipeline, we anticipate approximately:
- $200 million in Public Assistance
- $75 million in Hazard Mitigation Grants
The above amount will total more than $750 million from FEMA.
In addition, Congress specifically appropriated $334 million for North Carolina last December. Of these funds, $134 million was made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Army Corps of Engineers. The remaining $200 million was distributed to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program. This $200 million will become available once Governor Cooper receives approval for his State Action Plan. Approval is expected to be finalized in August. Of these funds, 80% must go to the “most impacted counties,” which include Cumberland and Robeson Counties.
In May, Congress approved additional disaster relief funding. This number was reported as $6.1 million; however that number failed to take into account the most recent data on unmet needs. My office worked with FEMA to ensure HUD used the most updated data and we expect to have a corresponding updated dollar amount soon.
As Congress moves forward with the 2018 budget, I have also received assurances from Chairman Frelinghuysen that North Carolina will receive additional funding.
Please feel free to contact my office with any questions or issue you are having with FEMA or other Federal agencies. Washington, DC Office: (202) 225-1976; District Office: (704) 362-1060
Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen: “Congressman Pittenger and I have worked very closely regarding appropriation needs to address the critical disaster relief in North Carolina. We must stand with these hurting people, and will do everything possible working with Congressman Pittenger and the North Carolina delegation to ensure the needed financial assistance secured this year and into the 2018 budget.”
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