Pardon Our Dust
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The Raleigh office could potentially lose power due to the impact from Hurricane Florence. If so, we will respond back to you as soon as possible. We wish safe travels to everyone evacuating from the storm and successful recovery after the storm.
Thank You for helping our community!
Thank you to all of the clients who are contributing to the hurricane relief efforts during this critical time. McGuireWoods Consulting commends you for taking steps to let affected communities across the state know that you are there for them. Healthcare clients donating their medical expertise and resources, transportation clients standing ready to help with traffic and recovery efforts, telecommunications clients who are maintaining infrastructure and offering free services for those impacted. Plus countless others who are offering relief needs all over the state.
Hurricane Florence Update
Hurricane conditions are expected to hit the North Carolina coast heavily late Thursday. Although Hurricane Florence has weakened from a Category 4 to a Category 2 storm, it is still considered extremely dangerous. Governor Cooper has issued an state of emergency and has urged residents in the evacuation parts of the state to get out while there is still time. The state is preparing for as much as 40 inches of rain over the next few days. As the state prepares for the impact of Hurricane Florence, here are a number of resources to weather this storm now and in the weeks to come.
Online/Digital Resources:
- FEMA App for Apple and Android
- Ready NC App for Apple and Android
- FEMA National Business Emergency Operations Center
- National Hurricane Center’s Florence Page
- NCDPS’ Florence Page
- Ready NC
FEMA Contacts:
Ms. Mary Hudak, Director, External Affairs, FEMA Region IV
mary.hudak@fema.dhs.gov
Mr. Phil Strouse, Private Sector Liaison, FEMA Region IV
philip.Strouse@fema.dhs.gov / (404) 909-2641
Small Business Adminstration Contact
Ashley Bell, SBA Regional Administrator – Office of Field Operations, Region IV
Ashley.Bell@sba.gov / (404) 331-4999
North Carolina’s Rainy Day Fund
The North Carolina government has more emergency cash on hand in its savings account than ever before. Lawmakers emphasized this cash heavily throughout the legislative session. The fund received an additional $161 million in this year’s budget which, brought the total to about $2 billion. North Carolina’s rainy day fund exceeds the savings of neighboring states South Carolina and Virginia, who will also be affected by the storm.
In recent years, the state’s fund has had less than $300 million. Which made it harder for the government to fully fund all affected areas across the state during past storms. Although the goal of the fund is to spread relief across the state, there are regulations to do so. If the state seeks to spend higher than 7.5% of last fiscal year’s operating budget, it would require the legislature to come into session and for at least two-thirds of the Senate and House to vote yes. This comes as the state is still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Matthew.
It is possible for the legislature to see another special session to take up matters concerning disaster relief. This would take place before the already scheduled session to flesh out implementation language for constitutional amendments that pass during the Nov. 6 elections.