Hurricane Helene “recovery czar” Michael Whatley is facing mounting criticism over his leadership from both sides of the aisle. Across Western North Carolina, residents, local officials, and party leaders from both sides are voicing deep frustration with what they see as Whatley’s failure to deliver meaningful recovery nearly a year after the devastating storm.
When Hurricane Helene struck on September 27, 2024, it left behind an estimated $60 billion in damage, destroying or severely damaging more than 73,000 homes and 1,300 roads and bridges. A year later, only 9% of federal recovery needs have been met, according to Gov. Josh Stein.
Appointed by former President Donald Trump in January 2025 to lead recovery efforts, Whatley has defended his record. In a recording obtained by The Smoky Mountain News, he suggested criticism was politically motivated.
“What they’re trying to say is that the president has not done a good job in terms of recovery, and therefore I’ve not done a good job,” Whatley said. “The fact is, $6.5 billion in relief [is what] we’ve brought into North Carolina since President Trump was sworn in.”
But local governments, homeowners, and businesses say the vast majority of federal aid, roughly $54 billion, still hasn’t arrived.
More than 120 residents from 17 counties have signed a letter demanding Whatley’s ouster. Addressed to FEMA Review Council co-chairs Kristi Noem and Pete Hegseth, the letter accuses Whatley of “failing to deliver pre-approved, promised federal relief funds” and of “forgetting about” the very communities he was appointed to help.
“It’s kind of funny to say ‘step down,’ because I never saw him step up,” Margaret Ackiss, a member of the North Carolina Republican Party’s 11th Congressional District executive committee, told the Smoky Mountain News.
“This is a human issue. I have friends on both sides of the aisle, although I’m a Republican. When catastrophes happen, I don’t care what party you’re in — we help the people on the ground,” said Ackiss, who claims 10 generations of roots in the region. “To me, it was completely disappointing to see Michael Whatley and many others who espouse themselves to be Republicans not step up and help the people involved in this.”
For residents like Conrad Wrobel of Laurel Park, the recovery effort has been nonexistent. His neighborhood was devastated by a massive mudslide that caused more than $800,000 in property losses, yet he says they’ve received not a single dollar in federal reimbursement.
“If it were on a scale of 10, it’d be a zero,” Wrobel said. “Municipalities are suffering, taking out loans just to make basic repairs. I’d say he’s done an extremely poor job.”
Wrobel, an unaffiliated voter, said he hadn’t seen the letter but would have gladly signed it.
On Oct. 21, Whatley spoke with The Smoky Mountain News as he was on his way to a meeting with Department of Homeland Security officials about Hurricane Helene recovery. He said he was aware of the letter calling for his ouster.
“I’m disappointed,” he said of the letter, “because what we’re trying to do is make sure that we are getting relief into Western North Carolina, and I’m surprised that people would not want somebody to help champion that cause.”
Western North Carolinians do want someone to champion their cause; they just want someone who champions the cause productively and effectively. Someone who actually delivers the relief they tout at campaign fundraisers, not Michael Whatley, who is now seeking North Carolina’s open US Senate seat. Whatley is likely going to be running against former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, who has never lost a statewide election.
“Today, Michael Whatley confirmed that the FEMA review council he leads won’t actually help Helene victims, that Western North Carolinians should not expect robust federal reimbursement and that he is unable to fulfill his duties as FEMA recovery czar,” a Cooper campaign spokesperson told SMN. “Instead of making excuses, Michael should focus on his job and deliver much-needed aid that thousands of families have waited over ten months for”.
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