Governor Roy Cooper announced Friday that FEMA has approved his request to add 12 more counties to those eligible to receive reimbursements for Hurricane Dorian response and recovery expenses.

FEMA Public Assistance funding is now available to local governments, state agencies and certain private nonprofits in Beaufort, Camden, Columbus, Greene, Hoke, Lenoir, Onslow, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Robeson and Wayne counties. It brings the total to 26 North Carolina counties designated for Public Assistance as part of the Hurricane Dorian major disaster declaration, after President Donald Trump included 14 counties in his initial major federal disaster declaration.

“This approval means more towns and counties will be able to use federal funds to cover their storm response and clean-up costs so Dorian will not put their local budgets in a bind,” Governor Cooper said in a press release.

The declaration comes just one day after the U.S. Small Business Administration authorized low-interest disaster loans in many of the same eastern North Carolina counties. Cooper then authorized a state grant program created for people who are denied the SBA loans or have damages not covered by insurance.

Public Assistance is a cost-sharing program to reimburse eligible disaster-related debris removal, emergency protective measures and the repair or restoration of public facilities such as roads, bridges, water control facilities, buildings, equipment, public utilities, parks and recreational facilities. 

Governor Cooper may request additional counties be added to the Public Assistance declaration as more information is gathered.

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