Chantal’s floodwaters left significant damage to Camp Easter Rd. and N.C. 2 in Southern Pines, NC on July 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of NCDOT)
Before, during and after a natural disaster hits North Carolina, multiple state agencies spring into action.
The Department of Public Safety houses emergency management, which leads the immediate response. Consumer Services flags price gouging scams. Agriculture officials survey damage to farms and crops, and Environmental Quality helps guide cleanup of debris and waterways.
A newly drafted bill puts forward a new system: an all-in-one disaster response agency, governed by bipartisan appointees.
That agency, outlined under a new version of House Bill 907 released Monday, would be called the North Carolina Commission for Preparedness and Recovery. Its exact proposed duties, and structure, could change as discussions about the bill continue.
Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne) (Photo: NCGA video)
“This is a piece of legislation that will be worked on for many months to come,” said Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne).
As currently written, the commission would wide-ranging powers: coordinating disaster readiness, spearheading recovery and rebuilding, and handling the hundreds of millions of dollars in state and federal funds that flow into the state. In all, it would oversee homebuilding, flood resiliency and mitigation, landslide and floodplain mapping, flood insurance and more.
The commission would be governed by a group of 13 board members: seven appointed by the governor, and six total appointed by legislative leaders. The board would appoint an executive director, who could hire additional staff as needed.
Lawmakers’ proposed overhaul comes as North Carolina continues to rebuild from Hurricane Helene, the deadliest storm in state history — as well as finish building in the east years after Hurricanes Florence and Matthew.
And the plan could impact (and be impacted by) potential changes coming down from Washington, where President Trump has considered abolishing FEMA and handing responsibility for disaster response to the states.
Among the commission’s proposed first steps: adopting a “strategic plan” that addresses how the state will handle all stages of disaster response.
The bill would also create a new fund, overseen by State Treasurer Brad Briner’s office, for buyouts, gap funding, loans and grants and other disaster-related projects.
“It’s a way to look at and get input and work together,” Bell said of the bill, “as not just a House and Senate, but with the governor.”