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In a warehouse in downtown Raleigh, activists from across eastern North Carolina are collecting and sending donations for the recovery of Hurricane Florence. But on Tuesday, they focused their attention on another building a few miles away: the General Assembly of New Brunswick.
Legislators returned to Raleigh on Tuesday for an emergency relief session, passing bills to help states and federal governments pay money into areas of the state. hit by Hurricane Florence last month.
At the same time, activists from the east of the state and the Just Florence Recovery group called on heads of state to give more money to reduce the use of federal funding, which can sometimes be slow or inferior to the promises.
"My family and I lost everything because of Hurricane Matthew," said Kelvin Thompson, a resident of Lumberton, at a press conference on the recovery just in Florence. "And then, here's Hurricane Florence, and I did not even recover from Hurricane Matthew, and FEMA did not give us the assistance we needed to get back on our feet. we need funds and assistance in our region.
Legislators on Tuesday approved $ 50 million for immediate emergency relief efforts, plus $ 6.5 million to pay unused school employees, saying there will be others. in the future.
"This is a down payment in anticipation of federal relief and additional state actions once the agencies have completed the assessment of their needs", said in a statement the Senate leader, Phil Berger, a Republican from Rockingham County.
However, this $ 50 million represents only a small percentage of the $ 2 billion fund for rainy days, and activists wanted more. The savings of $ 2 billion represent a record amount that legislators have claimed after Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
"Now I do not know where you were," said Resea Willis of Brunswick County on Tuesday. "But where I was, it rained almost 30 inches on us. So, if there is a fund for rainy days, I'm here to tell you that it's raining already. We need your help."
There are legal limits to what the state can spend with this fund in any given year, but activists such as Willis said Tuesday that leaders should waive these rules because the need is immediate and immediate. Bypassing the rules to exceed the spending limit would require the approval of two-thirds of legislators, reported The News & Observer.
Willis leads the Brunswick Housing Opportunities Affordable Housing Group. She stated that the people of Brunswick County – which extends from the border of South Carolina to Bald Head Island and the suburbs of Wilmington – and in other parts of the Southeast is of the state needed urgent help to repair or rebuild their homes.
It's not just for the government's money. Volunteers like Willis and Thompson help Just Florence Recovery collect supplies and distribute them to the communities affected by the storm. Anyone wishing to donate material or labor to the group – which operates from the Anchorlight Art Space located at 1401 S Bloodworth St. – can find out more about justflorencerecovery.org or by email. calling 919-706-0556.
Governor Roy Cooper's office is also seeking donations to a government fund, the Disaster Relief Fund, which is separate from the Rainy Days Fund and will distribute its money through targeted groups. non-profit instead of the legislature. Individuals can donate to the fund or apply for a grant at https://www.nc.gov/agencies/volunteer/disaster-assistance. People can also make a donation by sending a message to FLORENCE at 20222 or by making donations during office hours at the governor's office located at 116 W. Jones Street in Raleigh.
"Donations will be distributed to organizations in disaster areas that provide direct services such as housewares, food, shelter, or other immediate needs to storm victims," said spokesperson Ford Porter. of Cooper.
"The same thing again and again"
Some residents of flooded cities are also turning to the courts for help. In Lumberton, the local owners are trying to force the CSX railway company to pay for the damage caused by the storm. A complaint filed last week indicates that CSX knew that one of its railway lines crossing the city posed a serious risk of flooding, but did nothing to prevent flooding. It also prevented locals from trying to put in place temporary flood control measures on the site.
The members of Just Florence Recovery also believe that companies should take on more responsibility for disaster recovery, including increasing their tax rates. But in the meantime, they are asking state and federal authorities to assess the damage and seek long-term solutions – not just temporary solutions – because floods are a constant concern.
"We do not need to repeat the same thing in our communities," said Thompson. "We need change in our communities. But we must have funds to make the change. "
Reverend Tyrone Watson, president of the NAACP of Robeson Unified County and preacher of neighboring Columbus County, said the two communities were among the hardest hit and were home to some of the poorest residents of the state.
"The hurricane basically took the little bit that they had," he said. "Even though the hurricane is gone, the storm has just started for a lot of people. And we do it – we beg you, we beg you, to release the funds. "
Others have called on lawmakers to do more to hold big polluters accountable, because when floods hit an area, all the chemicals and bacteria stored at industrial or agricultural sites can mix with the supply in drinking water.
"It is clear that the communities most affected by this destruction are the low-income communities and the disproportionately colored communities, which already suffer from decades of pollution," said Meshia Whittington-Kaminski, organizer of the environmental group. Friends of the Earth.
Doran: 919-836-2858; Twitter: @will_doran
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