The state House unanimously passed a second round of Hurricane Helene relief Thursday. The bill would spend $465 million to help rebuild in western North Carolina. Some of that money would flow directly to volunteer organizations, local governments, and small businesses. Representative Ray Pickett is from hard-hit Watauga County.
"We got to keep our businesses going," Pickett said. "Tourism is a lifeblood of Western North Carolina. If we don't have people coming, we don't have anything to be there for. We need people to come back and we need to help these businesses, and that is a start."
There is also money to upgrade infrastructure and help guard against future floods. The legislation will now be taken up by the Senate.