Officials: Disaster Relief Programs Need Streamlining

The advisory council submitted its recommendations Dec. 20 to the governor and the N.C. Redevelopment Center -- the state organization in charge of disaster relief.

"The recommendations submitted to our organization are long term and in the event of future disasters," said Kristin Woods, spokeswoman for the Redevelopment Center. "It's a blueprint for how we can improve operations in the future."

Easley formed the advisory council in May to evaluate and improve the state's disaster relief programs.

The council is composed of a cross-section of developers, commissioners and town managers from across the state.

The council's recommendations suggest procedural changes in future disaster relief efforts, such as streamlining operations and communication between state government organizations and municipal agencies.

But a few of the recommendations also would alter the dynamics of the state's existing disaster relief programs.

One change would affect a $31 million statewide Hurricane Floyd housing relief program and help developers build houses for disaster victims.

The five-year program, part of the $836 million Hurricane Floyd relief package from 1999, provides developers with state funds to build roads and other community infrastructure in participating subdivisions. Developers are given $10,000 in state funds per lot, but only if 50 percent of the houses built are sold to hurricane victims.

If less than 50 percent are sold by the end of the third year of the program, the money will be reclaimed by the state.

Charles Penny, assistant city manager of Rocky Mount and co-chairman of the advisory council, said developers are having a hard time selling houses to storm victims because many have found alternative housing.

He added that many developers are worried they won't be able to meet the requirement before the end-of-year deadline.

The advisory council wants to make it easier for developers to meet the requirement by allowing low- to medium-income buyers, who are not necessarily storm victims, to count toward the requirement.

By including low- and medium-income buyers in the program, developers can replenish the supply of homes available statewide, Penny said.

"We need to replenish the housing base with safe, affordable housing," he said.

Another recommendation calls for programs to help disaster victims with bad credit obtain housing.

Penny said the recommendations might have to go before the legislature before they are approved.

David Kelly, head of the Redevelopment Center, said his organization listens to the advisory council and the recommendations will be examined in the near future.

"Right now the recommendations are just that -- recommendations," he said. "The advisory council spent a lot of time on these recommendations, and the last thing we want to do is call a 30-minute meeting and race through the document."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdsk@unc.edu