Pryor Gibson speaks testifies at the General Assembly

Pryor Gibson, interim director of ReBuild NC, testifies in front of North Carolina lawmakers on the state of the hurricane homebuilding program on Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)

One of Gov. Josh Stein’s best actions since taking office was to make rebuilding hurricane ravaged western North Carolina a top priority, and putting a new office with new leaders in charge.

Unfortunately, as NC Newsline reported repeatedly in recent years, the state’s previous disaster recovery office — known as NCORR or Rebuild NC — chalked up a mostly abysmal record in responding to Hurricanes Matthew and Florence.

Last week, Rebuild NC boss Pryor Gibson told state lawmakers his agency needs a new infusion of more than two hundred million dollars to complete work on hundreds of homes that, maddeningly, remain unrepaired after nearly a decade.

Not surprisingly, lawmakers were angered and let Gibson know. Unfortunately, they have little choice but to provide the funds.

The bottom line: Rebuild NC’s disaster response work has, itself, been a disaster. Gov. Stein and lawmakers should provide the necessary funds and then see that it quickly completes its work and stays the heck out of western North Carolina. After that, they should see that the agency is disbanded as soon as possible.

For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.