President Biden approves emergency aid for NC prior to Tropical Storm Debby landfall

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – President Joe Biden approved federal disaster funding on Wednesday that’s available to North Carolina. This move comes as Tropical Storm Debby slowly makes its way to the state.

“The president’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe,” according to a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA is specifically authorized to “identify, mobilize and provide, at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency,” the news release stated.

Emergency protective measures will be provided at 75% federal funding for the following counties in central North Carolina:

• Chatham
• Cumberland
• Durham
• Edgecombe
• Franklin
• Granville
• Halifax
• Harnett
• Hoke
• Johnston
• Lee
• Moore
• Nash
• Northampton
• Orange
• Person
• Sampson
• Vance
• Wake
• Warren
• Wayne
• Wilson

A flood watch is now in effect for much of central North Carolina until Friday evening. Tropical Storm Debby is expected to deliver heavy rain totaling 10-15 inches through Friday.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper previously declared a state of emergency on Monday ahead of the tropical storm,

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