Justice for Storm Chantal Survivors Act.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Sophia Chitlik and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a $25M fund to provide per-capita mitigation aid (buyouts, relocations, rehab) to homeowners in seven NC counties damaged by Tropical Storm Chantal, up to $500K each.

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Purpose and Intent

Establish a dedicated financial mechanism to support homeowners affected by Tropical Storm Chantal in North Carolina.

Create a targeted mitigation program to fund buyouts, relocations, rehabilitations, and reconstructions within defined storm-affected areas.

Ensure orderly, equitable distribution of aid to eligible residents while maintaining administrative oversight.

Key Provisions

1) Tropical Storm Chantal Mitigation Fund

Creates the Tropical Storm Chantal Mitigation Fund (the Fund) within the North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) division of the Department of Public Safety.

The Fund is a special fund under NCEM and may use up to 4% of its resources for administrative purposes.

Primary purpose: provide mitigation assistance (buyouts, relocations, rehabilitations, reconstructions) to eligible homeowners in the affected area.

Distribution method: Funds are disbursed within the affected area on a per capita basis to ensure equitable distribution among all affected residents.

Benefit cap: No individual may receive more than $500,000 in assistance under the program.

Affected area (geographic scope): Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Durham, Moore, Orange, and Person Counties.

2) Funding and Appropriation

The bill appropriates $25,000,000 from the General Fund to NCEM for the Tropical Storm Chantal Mitigation Fund.

Any unused funds will revert to the Disaster Relief and Mitigation Fund on June 30, 2028.

3) Effective Date

The act becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Who Would Be Affected

Homeowners who sustained damage or losses from Tropical Storm Chantal within the seven specified counties.

Residents in the affected areas eligible for per-capita mitigation assistance under the Fund.

Public officials and staff within NCEM and the Department of Public Safety who administer and oversee the Fund, including those responsible for disbursement and project oversight.

Financial and Administrative Details

Administrative costs: up to 4% of Fund resources may be used for administration.

Overall funding: $25 million General Fund appropriation for initial Fund capitalization.

Payment cap per individual: $500,000 maximum.

Timeline: Funds available upon the act’s effective date (July 1, 2026), with disbursement governed by the per-capita allocation within the affected counties; unspent funds revert to the Disaster Relief and Mitigation Fund by June 30, 2028.

Significance and Context

The bill aims to provide rapid, targeted relief and long-term mitigation to communities impacted by Storm Chantal.

The per-capita approach is intended to promote equitable access to aid among affected residents.

The cap and sunset-like provision (reversion of unused funds in 2028) set boundaries on funding usage and deadline for outcomes.

If you’d like, I can add a section comparing this bill to existing disaster relief programs in North Carolina or outline potential implementation challenges and questions lawmakers might raise.

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