RALEIGH, N.C. -- Hurricane Florence was only in North Carolina for less than a week, but left months of devastation behind.

  • Lawmakers are expected back at the General Assembly on Tuesday, Oct. 2 to address the most urgent needs
  • There are calls from Democrats and Republicans to help address the needs of schools
  • Rev. Dr. William Barber has already made a call to the legislature to expand Medicaid during the special session

"This storm has hit everybody," said Governor Roy Cooper on Tuesday. 

Lawmakers are expected back at the General Assembly on Tuesday, Oct. 2 to address the most urgent needs. 

"We have people all over eastern and southeastern North Carolina that are hurting and now is a time not to play politics," said Rep. John Bell on Wednesday. 

There are calls from both sides of the aisle to help address the needs of schools that have closed for several days or weeks due to flooding, as well as laying out plans for long-term housing from FEMA.

"That's one of the reasons we are coming into session is to go ahead and start that process to get that federal match done so that way we can go ahead and show Congress we are serious about getting this done before they go into recess," Rep. Bell said. 

Current president of Repairers of the Breach and former leader of the NC NAACP Rev. Dr. William Barber has already made a call to the legislature to expand Medicaid during this special session.

"Somebody said we were politicizing the hurricane. No we are not. The hurricane is already politicized because before the hurricane, people could have had healthcare. They could have had living wages," Rev. Barber said. 

Governor Cooper contends it's not the time for politics.

"We'll have some disagreements I'm sure as to what the priorities ought to be, but now is the time to pull together. I think we can," said Governor Cooper.