Gov. Josh Stein says western North Carolina is open for business as fall tourism season gets underway. But even though it's nearly been a year since Hurricane Helene ripped through North Carolina, Stein said there's still a lot of work to be done.

Stein, a Democrat, said at a news conference Tuesday that the state is rebuilding as quickly as it can, but federal red tape and a slow federal response aren’t helping. He added that he’s asking the federal government for an additional $11.5 billion in a supplemental disaster bill.

A White House spokesperson didn't immediately respond to WRAL's request for comment on whether President Donald Trump would support the governor's request.

"This is a marathon," Stein said. "The work will not be done in 2025, and it will not be done in 2026, I'm s

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