H.R. 3908 would provide $2.2 billion in disaster assistance for families and businesses affected by Hurricanes Floyd, Dennis, and Irene.  North Carolina will receive over $300 million, including money Congressman Jones secured to provide emergency equipment and floodwater rescue training for rural fire departments in Eastern North Carolina.

“The focus of our attention has been on repairing and rebuilding what was damaged in the storm.  It is also important that we begin to prepare our communities for the reality of another hurricane season.  When natural disasters hit, our rural fire departments provide the first line of defense.  Unfortunately, when Hurricane Floyd hit last year, our volunteer firefighters did not have the training or the equipment to perform floodwater rescues.  This funding will help ensure that one of our greatest emergency resources is prepared to assist our communities should natural disaster strike again,” Jones said.

 The Supplemental Appropriations bill includes the following hurricane recovery assistance for North Carolina:
 

• $500,000 for the Volunteer Firefighters Assistance program to aid volunteer fire departments in counties declared presidential disaster areas as a result of Hurricane Floyd

• $81 million in market assistance payments to aid Eastern North Carolina tobacco, peanut, and cotton farmers

• $12.4. million to build an Armed Services Reserve Center in Greenville, to replace structures that were destroyed in the storm

• $6 million for commercial fishermen and $2 million for Beaufort Lab