North Carolina storm recovery chief accedes Matthew frustrations

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s emergency management chief says funds for Hurricane Matthew recovery continue to flow but acknowledged the process for homeowners to tap into federal repair funds is laborious and frustrating.

Mike Sprayberry took heated questions Monday from House committee members with constituents still waiting for grants to pay for home repairs already done or yet to be done after the October 2016 storm.

The committee focused largely on $237 million allocated by the federal government last year but have essentially yet to be distributed.

Sprayberry says the federal government requires these grant applicants to go through a strict application process and wants to streamline it. He pointed out $632 million in other federal and state funds already have been spent but recognized there are still “disaster survivors” who need help.