RALEIGH, N.C. (WRAL) – Gov. Roy Cooper signed a $604 million relief bill aimed at helping rebuild parts of western North Carolina damaged by Hurricane Helene.

WRAL says The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously on Thursday. It’s the second financial stimulus package passed by state lawmakers, who approved $273 million in aid earlier this month.

Cooper proposed a $3.9 billion aid package earlier in the week.

“Western North Carolina needs significant investment to fully recover from the worst storm our state has ever experienced,” Cooper said in a statement Friday. “Lawmakers have taken a small step here and should follow it with a more comprehensive set of measures to help families, businesses and communities build back stronger.”

The state should adopt new measures.

“There’s going to be a lot more to do,” Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, said during Thursday’s debate. “It takes time to understand what the needs are and how we should meet them. I think we’re responding as quickly as we can with the information we have.

The $604 million includes $100 million for loans to repair water and wastewater infrastructure, $100 million for cash flow loans to local governments, $75 million to match federal funds disaster relief, $50 million to help state and local governments address “unmet needs” not covered by insurance. , $50 million for repairs to damaged public schools and $50 million for bridge loans for small businesses.

The state has nearly $5 billion in so-called “rainy day” reserve accounts.

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