This decision was revealed through a press release on Saturday.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the federal government's commitment to rapid response. "Working in close coordination with North Carolina, we are providing this initial round of funding so there's no delay getting roads repaired and reopened, and re-establishing critical routes," he stated. Buttigieg also assured that further federal resources would follow to ensure the full recovery of transportation networks.

In a post on the social platform X, Buttigieg confirmed that the transportation department had approved North Carolina's request for assistance. He reiterated the administration's dedication to cooperating with state and community leaders at every recovery stage.

This announcement coincided with Vice President Harris's visit to Charlotte, North Carolina, where she met with Governor Roy Cooper. Earlier in the week, President Biden conducted an aerial inspection of the hurricane damage in the region, commending bipartisan efforts in the Carolinas in response to the disaster.

Hurricane Helene has resulted in substantial devastation, claiming at least 133 lives across six Southeastern states. Western North Carolina has been particularly hard-hit, with residents cut off by impassable roads and widespread power outages. White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall indicated that as many as 600 individuals remained unaccounted for as of Monday afternoon, according to NewsNation.

Additionally, Secretary Buttigieg addressed misinformation spread by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who claimed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had restricted airspace and hindered relief efforts. Buttigieg clarified, "No one is shutting down the airspace and FAA doesn't block legitimate rescue and recovery flights. If you're encountering a problem give me a call."

The federal funding and continued support underline the administration’s dedication to aiding North Carolina's recovery from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene.