The start of the Atlantic Hurricane season, which began on June 1st, is bringing back memories for many North Carolina communities that are still recovering from Hurricane Helene two years later.
While Western North Carolina communities have made recovery progress, delays in FEMA funding have left many vulnerable ahead of the new season.
Since last September, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has pushed Congress to allocate an additional $13.5 billion for Hurricane Helene storm recovery. According to the governor’s office, Hurricane Helene caused about $60 billion worth of damage in western North Carolina.
Last August, an investigation by WRAL revealed that DHS was holding up hundreds of millions in aid while falling behind on disaster preparedness grants. In recent months, federal funding has slowly trickled in through court orders and clearing of backlogs, however, more is needed as recovery efforts are still taking place.
“We’re still also in the process of picking up debris and all that along, and with hurricane season coming on, we get the flooding and stuff from the storms,” Bat Cave Fire Chief Steve Freeman told WFMY. “So we definitely need more help with the state and everybody getting in here to get even more of that stuff cleaned up before we have the next big storm come in.”
Amid the federal delay, western North Carolinians, advocates, and state leaders have continued to condemn the Trump administration and Trump-appointed FEMA leadership’s handling of the relief efforts.
Back in May, a statewide organization, Majority Forward North Carolina, launched ads focusing on Michael Whatley, Trump-appointed “Recovery Czar,” for his failure to deliver billions in federal disaster relief to the North Carolina communities waiting to rebuild nearly two years after Hurricane Helene.
“Michael Whatley was named recovery czar, and he has been nowhere. I’ve never seen the guy. We’re missing millions in recovery money to rebuild schools, businesses, and bridges – and those are our tax dollars,” Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers stated in the ad. “But for Michael Whatley, it’s just delay and deny.”
On top of delayed FEMA funding, the Trump Administration’s most recent wave of defunding of climate research and the National Weather Service will directly affect North Carolinians and millions across coastal communities in the U.S.
According to a press release from Climate Power, the Trump administration’s cuts to NOAA and the National Weather Service have degraded forecasts, putting at risk the accuracy of life-saving weather alerts that millions rely on during hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding.
“By gutting the National Weather Service, the Trump administration shot themselves in the foot—on purpose—only to now discover that it hurts and that they better mend themselves before bleeding out,” said John Morales, Meteorologist and Climate Power Co-Chair, in a statement.
“This administration threw away decades of forecasting expertise and experience, which cannot automatically be replaced by hiring a few new people. These cuts diminished our ability to study, monitor, forecast, and warn for hurricanes and other hazards. Weakening our ability to save lives and property in the face of increasingly severe and frequent extreme weather events is a dangerous mix.”
Looking to prepare for the hurricane season? Visit ReadyNC.gov to make an emergency plan, build a supply kit, and learn more information on how to prepare for hurricanes.
