The Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) team responsible for North Carolina’s Hurricane Helene Damage and Needs Assessment was awarded the esteemed George A. Bell Award this week. The National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) announced the award at their annual meeting. The George A. Bell Award honors state budget personnel for outstanding contributions and service to public budgeting and management in state government.
On the heels of Hurricane Helene, a team at OSBM immediately began assessing the catastrophic effects of the storm and the potential sources of available disaster response funds. The resulting Damage and Needs Assessment (DNA) has become an authoritative source of information about the impact of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. It is used by decision-makers at every level of government, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the media.
"This recognition is a testament to the OSBM Hurricane Helene team's passion and innovation,” said State Budget Director Kristin Walker. “The depth and scope of their work has set a new standard for states as they confront large-scale natural disasters and the budgetary strain that follows. This award underscores the value of responsive, data-based guidance for effective public budgeting.”
The DNA will have a lasting impact on North Carolina. It has been the basis for funding requests and grant applications by state and local governments. It has helped state leaders discern federal funding opportunities and what will fall to state or private sources. It also creates a baseline the state can use to measure recovery from Hurricane Helene.
The George A. Bell Award was established in honor of NASBO’s first Executive Director, Dr. George A. Bell. It is a national award recognizing state budget efforts that improve public program administration, enhance the quality of services, and create substantial cost savings for states.