Gov. Cooper requests federal Individual Assistance for Dare, Hyde Counties; Rep. Murphy visits Ocracoke

Per the Ocracoke Observer, newly elected U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy announced on Saturday during a visit to the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department that the disaster declaration for “public assistance” for damage by Hurricane Dorian was signed on September 21 by President Donald Trump. The approval means that FEMA will reimburse the state of North Carolina for the state costs of cleaning up and repairing storm damage to public facilities and infrastructure.

Murphy (R-Pitt County), who was just sworn in Tuesday after the Sept. 10 special election for the Third Congressional District, visited Ocracoke Island on Saturday, and met with island residents, officials, and representatives of the National Park Service, including Superintendent David Hallac.

“I spent this morning on Ocracoke Island talking to residents, first responders, National Park Service officials, and Hyde County officials about the impacts and devastation by Hurricane Dorian,” Rep. Murphy stated in a social media post. “I was alerted by FEMA today that public assistance funding was approved by President Trump and individual assistance has been requested by the Governors Office. I will continue working with FEMA to advocate on your behalf. #OcracokeStrong”

On Saturday, Governor Roy Cooper also sent an additional, supplemental request to President Trump for Individual Assistance for residents of Hyde and Dare counties, as well as New Hanover and Carteret counties.

“FEMA requires a thorough housing damage assessment in all affected areas in order to consider a request for Individual Assistance to homeowners and renters,” stated a Thursday press release from the Governor’s office, two days before the Sept. 21 letter was sent. “State damage assessment teams have been directed to work on an expedited timeline to complete damage assessments in each county to move forward with additional federal requests.”

If the Individual Assistance request is approved, the declaration would provide grants to residents who suffered damages due to Hurricane Dorian.

“Serious remaining impacts still need to be addressed,” states the eight-page September 21 letter. “Therefore, I am respectfully amending  my request for a Major Disaster Declaration and ask that you designate Individual Assistance for Carteret, Dare, Hyde, and New Hanover counties, including the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), the Small Business Administration’s Disaster Assistance Loans, Crisis Counseling, Disaster Legal Services, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and the Disaster Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.”

Governor Cooper’s September 21 letter can be read in its entirety here.