Bipartisan Appeal for Urgent Disaster Relief After Hurricanes Helene and Milton
In response to the devastating impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, North Carolina’s Republican U.S. Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, along with Congressman Chuck Edwards, are leading a bipartisan coalition in urging President Joe Biden to expedite disaster relief funding through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
In a letter signed by multiple senators and representatives from both parties, including Virginia’s Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, and Georgia’s Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, the group emphasizes the urgent need for a supplemental appropriation request to Congress. Hurricane Helene, which struck on September 26, and Hurricane Milton, occurring shortly after on October 9, resulted in a tragic toll of 261 lives lost and an estimated combined financial impact exceeding $300 billion across affected states.
The coalition points out a concerning delay at OMB, which has historically acted swiftly—submitting supplemental requests within weeks of significant disasters, as seen after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017. They stress that, seven weeks post-Hurricanes Helene and Milton, no such request has yet been transmitted to Congress, undermining recovery efforts for affected communities.
Senator Tillis highlighted dire ongoing needs, noting that many victims remain without essential services, such as drinkable water, until 2025 and that over 1,500 Helene survivors are still living in hotels. In a recent legislative move, Tillis introduced the Restoring an Economic Lifeline with Immediate Emergency Funding (Relief) Act, aimed at replenishing the Small Business Administration’s disaster relief loan program.
However, Senator Rand Paul blocked a unanimous vote on this provision, citing national debt concerns, further complicating the pathway to immediate relief. The bipartisan coalition asserts the need for prompt action, stating that constituents cannot afford to wait any longer for assistance, urging that significant disaster relief measures must commence without further delay.
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