Year in Review: Helene recovery enters 65th week

(The Center Square) – Peace of mind that comes through recovery from a hurricane more times than not requires money. And western North Carolina remains in need of peace.

Saturday marks the start of the 65th week of recovery from Hurricane Helene, arguably the state’s worst natural disaster in history. The storm killed 108 in the state, 237 in the South, and caused an estimated $60 billion to $80 billion in damage in North Carolina.

Progress is both incredible and crawling at a snail’s pace. Residents, their homes and the communities have overcome challenges. At the same time, more work is to be done in what is easily estimated as an overall minimum five-year recovery.

Friday marked Day 172 without the General Assembly implementing the two-year state budget. Despite the law saying it happens on July 1, legislators are mainly haggling over reduction of income taxes and state employee raise amounts.

The lawmakers want to refill what has been taken from the rainy day fund, also known as the Savings Reserve in the General Fund. As of June 30, the close of t...