Eight weeks after Hurricane Isabel tore a devastating path through eastern North Carolina, losses from the storm continue to pile up. Over $105 million has been approved so far to aid those whose property was damaged by the storm.
"It has been almost two months since Hurricane Isabel came ashore in North Carolina, but residents are still trying to obtain the necessary resources to rebuild their homes and communities," Gov. Mike Easley said in a statement Wednesday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is in charge of the relief efforts, has received 48,713 applications for individual assistance from residents and business owners in 47 central and eastern North Carolina counties. Of the $105 million approved for victims through last week, 75 percent will come from federal funds while the remaining portion will come from state funds. Additional funds from private donations will also be available.
According to Lisa Kimbrough, spokesperson for state speaker of the house Richard Morgan, North Carolina's portion will come from a $150 million "rainy day" fund that was included in this year's state budget which was passed in June. In addition, Easley asked all state departments to withhold a small percentage of their budgets in case of an emergency.
"The state is better prepared this year than in others," said Kimbrough.
The deadline for residents with uninsured losses from Isabel to register was Monday, Nov. 17. Most of the damage inflicted has come from flooding and debris, which damaged or destroyed over 15,000 homes. So far, $19.2 million has been approved to assist residents with temporary housing and home repairs, while $27.2 million in low-interest Small Business Administration disaster loans will go to 933 households and businesses. In addition, $20.2 million has been approved for projects to rebuild North Carolina's infrastructure, as well as $7.5 million committed to fill the Hatteras Island breach caused by the hurricane.
Much of the money has gone to counties along the coast, especially those on the Outer Banks.
"The destruction caused by water is some of the worst in the Outer Banks since 1933," said John Bone, president of the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce. "Yet considering the difficulties faced, I think [the Governor's Office and FEMA] have done a tremendous job here. [Businesses are] open, ready to go. People down here on the Outer Banks bounce back quickly."
Bone also said that plans for the December celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight have been unaffected by the Hurricane, and the event will take place as scheduled.
Agricultural losses so far are likely to exceed $150 million. Most of this damage has come from destroyed crops--which total 1.9 million acres--as well as lost livestock and damaged farm buildings.
Although farmers are usually not eligible to receive federal funding for storm damages, Congress did provide over $2 million in 1999 to help cover agricultural damages from Hurricane Floyd, and a similar measure is likely to be included in the agricultural appropriations bill currently in the U.S. Senate.
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