Helene was the most economically damaging natural disaster to ever hit North Carolina, in addition to the deadliest, Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday as he pressed lawmakers to approve a new, $3.9 billion relief package.

The new damage estimate — $53 billion, according to the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management — is triple the damage incurred by Hurricane Florence in 2018.

Cooper made his announcement a day before state lawmakers are set to return to Raleigh for a brief session Thursday, when they’re expected to debate another disaster relief bill. Cooper detailed his $3.9 billion recommendation in a 99-page budget document sent to reporters and legislative leaders. Lawmakers are expected to present their own relief plan, which may or may not take into account Cooper’s proposal.

The federal government is also expected to spend billions of dollars on Helene aid — largely to rebuild homes and roads, plus cover other costs such as aid for farmers and emergency loans for small businesses, to keep local economies from collapsing in the aftermath of the storm. Insurance companies will also likely pay out some claims, but more than 90% of homes in the area lacked flood insurance.

There are costs that neither insurance companies nor the federal government will cover, Cooper said Wednesday, adding that the $3.9 billion he’s asking lawmakers to spend is “a down payment on western North Carolina’s future.”

Cooper has previously faced criticism for the state and federal governments’ slow process helping people get their homes rebuilt or repaired after Hurricanes Florence and Matthew. A large chunk of the spending Cooper proposed Wednesday is aimed at getting the rebuilding process started sooner by giving people money that’s not tied to the federal government’s more cumbersome processes, he said.

“This proposal, built on the assessment of damage sustained and lessons learned from past storms, would give western North Carolina a jump start on recovery,” Cooper said.

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