RALEIGH, N.C. — The state budget includes millions of dollars to revive a landslide mapping program that North Carolina legislators stopped funding seven years ago.
The budget that lawmakers approved Friday includes $3.6 million for the Department of Environmental Quality to re-start the program with money from the state's disaster relief reserve.
The approval comes just after three people have died in mudslides in western North Carolina. In 2004, five people died in a mudslide in Macon County, spurring legislators to order the creation of hazard maps in 19 mountain counties.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports legislators ended funding in 2011 with landslide maps completed in just four counties.
The General Assembly gave final approval to budget adjustments for the coming year on Friday. Gov. Roy Cooper could still veto it.
Associated Press
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