BURNSVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Gov. Josh Stein returned to western North Carolina on Thursday afternoon, touring storm-damaged areas in Yancey County.
The governor met with first responders, teachers, and residents who lived through some of the most violent storm impacts seen during Hurricane Helene.
The visit came one day after the state Senate advanced a relief package worth more than half-a-billion dollars.
He told Queen City News he will sign it if it reaches his desk.
“Certainly, I absolutely will. “I’m grateful that the House and Senate have moved, they’re getting the ball rolling, they’re starting our work.”
Stein insisted that the package will not be the last round of help from Raleigh.
“We are not done, this package is not the final package, it cannot be. Because the needs are immense. There were 60 billion dollars in damages in all of Western North Carolina,” said Stein.
But the governor also said federal assistance will need to continue to ensure Western NC can fully recover.
“We need them to come up with a disaster relief package, I don’t know where it is in the process, we’ve been reaching out talking to their offices, that has to happen as soon as possible,” he said.
The relief bill passed by the Senate on Wednesday needs to have some changes approved by the House before it can be sent to the governor’s desk for his approval.
