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Lawmakers give unanimous approval to Florence disaster relief fund bills

The General Assembly gave unanimous approval to a pair of bills now headed to Gov. Roy Cooper's desk. The bills put more than $56 million in a special Florence disaster relief fund, which can allow schools in the hardest-hit areas to be forgiven up to 20 lost instructional days and ensure workers in shuttered schools are paid.
Credit: Chip Somodevilla
Volunteer Amber Hersel carries 7-year-old Keiyana Cromartie after she and her family were rescued from their flooded home during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in James City, NC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

North Carolina lawmakers have quickly approved their initial legislation designed to address the damage and logistics problems caused by Hurricane Florence.

The General Assembly gave unanimous approval Tuesday to a pair of bills now headed to Gov. Roy Cooper, who is expected to sign them into law. Cooper called legislators back for a special session to begin the recovery for what he called an "unprecedented disaster."

The bills put more than $56 million in a special Florence disaster relief fund, most of which can be used to match what the federal government provides in a preliminary relief package. They also allow schools in the hardest-hit areas to be forgiven up to 20 lost instructional days and ensure workers in shuttered schools are paid.

The deadline for traditional voter registration applications also would be extended by three days.

Lawmakers are returning Oct. 15 to take up more recovery legislation.

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