RALEIGH–Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday asked the U.S. Small Business Administration to grant a disaster declaration for North Carolina counties that were affected by Hurricane Dorian.
This request is the first step in establishing a state relief program after FEMA denied North Carolina’s request for Individual Assistance for Carteret, Dare, Hyde and New Hanover Counties on Oct. 8
If granted, the declaration would provide low-interest disaster loans to people affected by Hurricane Dorian, and it would be the first piece of a state managed relief program for Dorian’s victims.
The request is for assistance to affected individuals and businesses in Carteret, Dare, Hyde, New Hanover and all contiguous counties.
Following the SBA declaration, Cooper intends to sign an order for state-funded individual assistance which would provide grants to supplement SBA loans for Dorian affected individuals and businesses.
The state will then open disaster recovery centers in affected counties for people to apply for SBA loans and state grants.
“I’m asking the SBA for assistance so we can get more state help to Hurricane Dorian survivors as quickly as possible,” Cooper said in a press release. “While it’s disappointing that federal government assistance for this was turned down, we know that North Carolinians should not leave each other behind.”
Cooper’s letter is below.
