Source: PRESS RELEASE, 8/31/11

Late today, Gov. Perdue directed state officials to ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency to add both Halifax and Lenoir counties to its disaster declaration request for individual assistance to help recover from Hurricane Irene.

State Emergency Management Director Doug Hoell, acting under Gov. Perdue's direction, also requested that 20 counties be added to its federal disaster declaration request for public assistance.  The public assistance would help local governments defray the costs of storm response and an estimated $40 million in debris removal and infrastructure repairs.

The counties are: Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Halifax, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Tyrrell and Wilson.

"I'm moving aggressively to make sure families, businesses and communities receive the assistance they need to help recover from this storm," Perdue said. "I'll continue to do everything I can to make sure the recovery process moves as rapidly and efficiently as possible."

Individual assistance aids families and businesses, while public assistance helps with community recovery costs.

On Monday, Gov. Perdue requested a federal declaration for individual assistance for Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico and Tyrrell counties.  President Obama approved that request on Wednesday.

More counties may be added for both individual and public assistance as damage assessments continue.