RALEIGH, N.C. — Delays and funding cuts within state and federal governments are raising concerns about North Carolina’s ability to respond to hurricanes or other natural disasters in the near future.

Hurricane Erin, which turned away from the state Thursday after causing storm surges on the coast, wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been. And had it been worse, the state would’ve been prepared to handle it, Gov. Josh Stein told reporters Wednesday during an emergency briefing.

Stein, however, acknowledged that longer-term guarantees are harder to make given current political realities.

“These guys have enough money in their accounts to respond to [Erin],”Stein said, gesturing to the leaders of the Highway Patrol, National Guard and the state’s departments of transportation, emergency manageme

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