Current estimates of the cost of responding to the storm already exceed $61 million dollars. Damage assessments are continuing in the state, and further assistance and designation of counties may be provided as more damage surveys are completed. Once the local damage assessments are completed and certified by the state and FEMA officials, the costs will be reimbursed to state and local agencies.

The counties designated for the federal assistance are: Alamance, Alexander, Anson, Burke, Cabarrus, Catawba, Chatham, Cleveland, Davidson, Durham, Franklin, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Iredell, Lee, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Union, Vance, and Wake. Federal disaster funding is available to eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis to cover debris removal, emergency services related to the storm, and the repair or replacement of damaged public facilities, including repairs to the publicly owned electric membership cooperatives. The federal government pays 75 percent of the costs.

Affected counties in the state are also eligible to apply for assistance under the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The program makes funding available to local governments for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks. The 33 disaster-declared counties and the counties of Caldwell, Edgecombe and Forsyth are eligible for hazard mitigation, which is also 75 percent federally funded.

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