Governor Pat McCrory’s Hurricane Matthew Recovery Committee held its second regional meeting today in Edgecombe County, where it discussed steps to continue relief fundraising efforts, community outreach and long-term plans for sustainable communities. The committee heard comments from members of the community directly affected by the storm.
During the meeting the governor and committee members heard updates on the status of the ongoing recovery efforts in the area from Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry and representatives from FEMA. The committee, which is chaired by the governor's Chief of Staff Thomas Stith, took comments from the public to gain an understanding of the continuing needs in Edgecombe County and the region.
“It is vital that we continue to focus our efforts in these communities that are still recovering, including Edgecombe County, which was one of the hardest hit areas affected by major flooding,” said Governor McCrory. “As we continue to hear from those who were directly affected, the committee will be better able to prioritize long-term solutions for future natural disasters."
The committee has three additional regional meetings scheduled over the coming weeks, including:
Cumberland County
November 21 at 10:00 a.m.
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Horticulture Education Center
Pitt County
November 30 at 10:00 a.m.
East Carolina University
Heart Institute
Lenoir County
December 2 at 10:00 a.m.
Lenoir Community College
Waller Building
Governor McCrory announced the formation of the Committee in late October, and convened the first meeting in Raleigh on November 1. Initial assessments estimate Hurricane Matthew caused $2 billion in economic damage. Earlier this week, the governor submitted a formal request for more than $1 billion in federal assistance and laid out a timeline for a request of additional recovery funding from the state.
To view footage of Governor McCrory's tour of Edgecombe County flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, click here.
The governor is encouraging individuals and groups to help in the relief efforts by making a financial or other contribution. Monetary contributions to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund for Hurricane Matthew can be made by texting NCRECOVERS to 30306 or by visiting NCDisasterRelief.org. This is one of the best ways to help fund long-term recovery efforts.
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