North Carolina Governor Josh Stein is escalating his calls for federal assistance by requesting an additional $13.5 billion to support the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene, citing massive shortfalls in funding and what he described as a lack of urgency from the Trump administration and Congress.

Speaking from Flat Rock, Stein emphasized that Western North Carolina has been left behind in the federal disaster response and has not received its fair share of support. "Western North Carolina has not received anywhere near what it needs, nor our fair share," he stated. The request comes as the state marks over a year since the storm's landfall, with communities still grappling with destroyed homes, shuttered businesses, and damaged infrastructure.

According to Stein, the federal government has so far only covered about 9% of the total damages caused by Hurricane Helene - a figure far below historical benchmarks. In major disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina, Maria, and Sandy, federal relief typically covered 40-70% of total losses. "The next stage in recovery is going to require a new commitment from Congress and from the administration," Stein declared.

The governor's funding request includes $8 billion in grants to rebuild homes and businesses, $2 billion in community loans from FEMA, $2 billion for road and bridge repairs, and $400 million in forgivable loans for small businesses. Stein said the full scope of North Carolina's federal aid needs amounts to approximately $22.8 billion, including funds already appropriated but not yet released due to bureaucratic holdups.

A key obstacle in accessing existing aid is the tightening of federal disbursement rules. Under new guidelines, any spending over $100,000 must be approved by FEMA, Homeland Security Secretary Kristin Noem, and a White House committee responsible for oversight. Stein criticized the delays, saying, "It's taking way too long."

Even members of the president's party have begun voicing frustration. North Carolina Senator Ted Budd, a close ally of President Trump, recently voted against advancing a Department of Homeland Security nominee in protest, highlighting what he described as the agency's sluggish pace in reimbursing state expenditures. "I'm trying to get the attention of those at DHS that are being slow to reimburse North Carolina for funds already spent," Budd told local media.

Despite delays, North Carolina has received some critical support. A backlog of over $160 million in public assistance from FEMA was recently cleared. The Environmental Protection Agency has directed $746 million toward water and sewer system repairs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved $221 million to help farmers and ranchers recover from Helene's devastating impact on the agricultural sector.

Stein's administration continues to argue that these disbursements are insufficient given the scale of devastation. Farms across the region have reported losses in livestock, damaged equipment, and disrupted supply chains. Many producers have been forced to rely on high-interest loans or out-of-pocket spending to maintain operations, prompting concerns over loterm viability.

The political pressure is mounting as Stein prepares to travel to Washington, D.C. this week to meet directly with lawmakers and agency officials. He aims to secure bipartisan support for expediting the release of already-approved funds and for advancing his new $13.5 billion request.

"North Carolina families, farmers, and business owners cannot afford to wait," Stein said. "They deserve the same level of commitment that other states have received in the wake of disaster."

With hurricane seasons becoming increasingly intense due to climate trends, state leaders warn that delays in recovery not only slow economic recovery but also heighten vulnerability to future disasters. Stein's latest push represents a broader call for the federal government to reassess how aid is prioritized and distributed across regions affected by climate-driven catastrophes.