[Jack]

WE NOW KNOW HOW MUCH THE DESTRUCTION FROM HURRICANE HELENE COST NORTH CAROLINA. 

THE STATE NEEDS AT LEAST A RECORD 53 *BILLION* DOLLARS TO RECOVER. 

THAT NUMBER INCLUDES DAMAGES AND POTENTIAL INVESTMENTS TO PREVENT SIMILAR DESTRUCTION IN FUTURE STORMS. 

GOVERNOR ROY COOPER SAYS THE STATE’S PREVIOUS RECORD FOR STORM DAMAGE WAS 17 BILLION DOLLARS FROM HURRICANE FLORENCE IN 20-18.

HELENE CAUSED 14-HUNDRED LANDSLIDES IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA …

DAMAGED OR DESTROYED AROUND 126-THOUSAND HOMES …

DAMAGED MORE THAN 1-THOUSAND BRIDGES …

AND AT LEAST 6-THOUSAND MILES OF ROADS.

THIRTY-NINE OF THE STATE’S 100 COUNTIES ARE WITHIN THE FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTER AREA.

CRITICS SAY THE GOVERNMENT DIDN’T ACT FAST ENOUGH FOLLOWING THE STORM … WHICH LED TO PRIVATE CITIZENS FORMING THEIR OWN HOMEGROWN RESCUE AND SUPPLY OPERATION NOW KNOWN AS THE “REDNECK” AIR FORCE.   i wanna say thank you .. if you’re new here and this is your first day and your first opportunity to be a part of this im grateful for you. We’re grateful for you.. This is the long haul. 

THE GROUP CREATED BY “SAVAGE FREEDOMS’’ INCLUDES CURRENT AND FORMER SOLDIERS, SPECIAL OPERATIONS PILOTS AND HELICOPTER TOUR GUIDES.

THEY’RE USING THEIR OWN AIRCRAFT TO FLY DOCTORS, MEDICINE, GENERATORS, FUEL AND FOOD TO ISOLATED RESIDENTS FOLLOWING THE HURRICANE … RELYING ON DONATIONS TO FUND THE PROJECT.

FEMA SAYS IT HAS SHIPPED OVER 9 MILLION MEALS AND MORE THAN 11 MILLION LITERS OF WATER. 

LAWMAKERS PLAN TO MEET FOR A ONE-DAY SESSION THURSDAY TO ADVANCE ADDITIONAL HURRICANE RECOVERY LEGISLATION FOR NORTH CAROLINA. 

THEY ALREADY APPROVED A 273 MILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE. 

FOR SAN – I’M JACK AYLMER. 

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