Gov. Mike Easley announced Thursday that the state will provide about $24 million to municipalities for ice storm cleanup not covered by federal disaster funds.
The state funds will constitute 25 percent of the $97 million needed to remove debris left in the wake of the December natural disaster -- the state's worst since Hurricane Floyd in 1999. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which declared the affected counties a federal disaster area last month, has pledged the additional $73 million.
Easley's announcement elicited sighs of relief from officials in the 42 N.C. counties affected by last month's ice storm, including Orange, Durham, Wake and Chatham counties. "I'm delighted with Easley's announcement," said Chapel Hill Town Council member Pat Evans. "Last year and this year are tough budget years, and coming years may be also, so the state picking up this 25 percent for disaster relief will help."
Had the state refused to assume the cleanup costs not covered by federal funds, local governments -- already experiencing budget shortfalls -- would have been responsible for the additional costs of clearing roads and sidewalks of debris.
In the last month alone, Chapel Hill maintenance crews have worked ceaselessly, collecting 4,000 tons of debris -- twice the yearly average of 2,000 tons.
Easley spokesman Ernie Seneca said the state still is receiving damage estimates, indicating that the cleanup cost easily could top the estimated $97 million.
Seneca said that the state has yet to identify a viable source for the relief money but that the governor will keep his pledge to municipalities.
He added that the governor's office is encouraging cleanup crews to continue to act quickly to repair damaged infrastructure and to remove debris.
"I applaud the towns, cities and counties across North Carolina for all their efforts to this disaster and for the ongoing recovery process to keep our people safe and help return life to normal," Easley stated in a press release issued Thursday. "Now that they know this money is coming, I want them to focus on completing the job as quickly as possible."
