After admitting to poor management of millions in hurricane relief dollars, and asking for more, Laura Hogshead has been fired from the state Office of Resilience and Recovery (NCORR).
Rep. Brenden Jones, who called for Hogshead to resign Monday, confirmed Wednesday night that she was no longer with the state. Jones asked Hogshead to resign during a contentious two-hour hearing Monday. State house members questioned Hogshead about uncompleted or shoddy repairs on homes damaged during hurricanes in 2016 and 2018, as well as the NCORR’s request for additional funds totaling $150 million to clear up a deficit that is estimated to be in excess of $221 million.
Pryor Gibson, a deputy counsel to Gov. Roy Cooper, was named interim director of NCORR. Hogshead was appointed by the governor, and answered directly to Cooper.
The governor has maintained control over the agency and the hundreds of millions in federal and state funding since its inception in 2018, in the wake of Hurricane Florence.
The NCORR was initially set up to assist with the back to back disasters of hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018. Since then NCORR has been put in charge of longterm recovery for other storms, including Isaias and Idalia.
Rebuild NC is the branch of NCORR responsible for coordinating construction and repairs on flood damaged properties, and temporarily housing families while work was being completed. Cooper ordered the application period for Matthew and Florence damage extended far past the original two-year deadline.
Jones said in a press release that Hogshead’s dismissal follows “a series of missteps and a lack of visible progress in key recovery areas, with numerous complaints from homeowners and local officials regarding the inefficiency of the organization.”
Monday was the second time Hogshead had been asked to resign. Sen. Danny Britt (R-Robeson) urged her to step down in 2022, after earlier problems with accounting in NCORR and Rebuild NC.
“It is clear that Rebuild NC has failed the people of North Carolina,” Jones said during the hearing. “For years, communities have been waiting for the support and resources they were promised. It’s time for new leadership to take charge and ensure that recovery efforts finally reach those in need.
“It is time to move forward with new leadership to restore public trust and ensure that disaster recovery resources are effectively distributed to the communities that need them most.”
Hogshead’s resignation came while Cooper was in Washington discussing billions of hurricane relief money with federal officials.
The state House and Senate sent bills authorizing $80 million for NCORR to Cooper’s desk Wednesday night. The funding will help with homeowner recovery projects and ongoing expenses.
Unlike previous funding bills, however, SB 382 requires intensive oversight, accounting and reporting standards, under the direction of the state auditor. Additional audits are also required, as well as any additional requests from the state Director of Budget or the General Assembly.
