(RALEIGH) -- The state Senate's Select Committee or Emergency Preparedness and Response heard Thursday from several people who have been important in leading the state's recovery from Hurricane Irene.

According to North Carolina Emergency Management and FEMA, more than $21 million have been paid out to people who have had some sort of damage from the late August hurricane.  Much of the affects have been seen east of the I-95 corridor.  In all 35 counties have been deemed eligible for individual disaster assistance.

Among the hardest hit were farmers in the Easter part of the state. Former congressman Bob Etheridge, who serves as Gov. Perdue's special adviser on the recovery. says in at least one county there is no farmer that reports less than 20 percent of their livelihood damaged because of the storm.

The panel also got a report on the storm's impact to the state. Fiscal research shows North Carolina could see state costs for recovery at roughly $30 to $50 million over three years.  That estimate does not include agriculture damages.