Helene federal funding compared to past disasters

Luther Harrison, representing Samaritan’s Purse, recounted the work his organization has done directly administering aid in western North Carolina, including building new homes for displaced residents.

“This one is ranking up there with the Sandys, the Katrinas, the Harveys,” he said.

However, there is a disparity in the level of federal funding North Carolina has received so far for Helene compared to other states in previous hurricanes, like Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina. According to the GROW NC presentation, 78% of hurricane economic damage after Sandy, and 73% after Katrina, was covered by federal aid.

So far, just 10.6% has been covered by federal aid for Helene. (On Monday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced additional relief funding, raising the total from 9% on the chart below to 10.6%.)

Source: https://www.ednc.org/09-25-2025-hurricane-helene-recovery-hearing-highlights-delays-uncertainty-in-federal-aid/