WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Tim Scott (R-SC) formally requested the next Senate appropriations bill include additional disaster relief for areas struggling in the wake of Hurricane Florence.

In a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the Senators praised the Committee’s quick response following the hurricane, which led to a $1.68 billion down payment passed in October.

“Thanks to your assistance, state agencies across the Carolinas are already establishing plans to rebuild the hardest hit communities over the coming months and years,” the letter states. 

However, the letter adds, in the last two months, “A total of 51 counties have been declared disaster areas in North Carolina, including 34 for individual assistance, and in South Carolina, 19 counties have been declared, including 8 for individual assistance. Many of the communities affected by Hurricane Florence were also impacted by other severe flooding events within the last three years, further complicating the recovery and rebuilding efforts. In total, our states suffered combined damage totaling over $20 billion.”

“It will take years for many communities to recover, requiring the combined efforts of state and federal agencies,” the letter continues.

“In the near future we will provide the Senate Appropriations Committee and relevant subcommittees with funding requests and programmatic changes needed to further recovery efforts,” the Senators added. “It is our hope and request that emergency appropriations for states affected by Hurricane Florence be included in the next appropriations bill the Senate considers.”

To read the entire letter, click here. 

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