Gov. Josh Stein is asking North Carolina lawmakers to set out more than $1 billion in new relief funding for Hurricane Helene recovery — almost double the total amount the state has allocated thus far.

North Carolina officials charged with leading recovery efforts in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene have told state lawmakers that they need more money.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein began his first term earlier this month with a behemoth task in front of him: Helping western North Carolina recover from close to $60 billion in damage from Hurricane Helene,