Fewer than 50 families in western North Carolina have received temporary housing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) despite freezing temperatures in the state’s western mountains.

FEMA Apologizes

The agency has apologized for falling short of its promises, leaving hundreds of families still on a waiting list for housing. FEMA had initially committed to delivering 103 travel trailers and manufactured homes by the end of November but managed to provide only 27. By December 4, that number had risen to just 46, even though over 500 families had been approved for housing, according to WBTV.

A FEMA spokesperson reportedly apologized to WBTV for miscommunication within the agency. The official said they will caution against disseminating information with methods other than written communication in the future. FEMA also announced that it would no longer provide specific timelines for the delivery of homes.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino 

Community members have complained of FEMA employees staying at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in Cherokee, North Carolina, nearly 50 miles from Asheville. The hotel shared on social media that FEMA search and rescue teams were stationed at their property while helping impacted communities, turning ballrooms into command centers and the parking lots into staging areas for relief teams and vehicles. 

Users criticized FEMA’s response in the comments, saying that the casino is getting FEMA money by housing employees in expensive rooms while hurricane victims who have lost everything are living in shelters and their cars. 

Federal funding 

Last Friday, FEMA announced that President Biden has authorized the federal cost-share to be increased from 75% to 90% for Public Assistance projects after the first 180 days.

Previously, the disaster declaration approved by President Biden on Sept. 29 made federal funding available for Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation, and other needs assistance, with a federal cost-share of 75%. An amendment approved on Oct. 2, 2024 increases that federal cost share to 100% for the first 180 days of the incident period. 

Part of the reimbursable aid includes the state offering to purchase homes from hurricane victims as a pathway toward recovery.  Steven McGugan, Assistant Director of Emergency Management at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, explained that the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is designed to protect properties from future disasters by removing vulnerable structures from floodplains, allowing floodwaters to recede more naturally.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant is intended to identify properties, specifically, that maybe or may be impacted by disasters or disasters in the future and try to implement measures that will protect those homes or homeowners from future or current damages,” said McGugan. “For every structure that’s removed from the floodplain, you’re actually taking away a structure that’s eaten up where water wants to go,” said McGugan. “So the more structures that are removed from that, it allows the floodplain to stay smaller.”

Nonprofit Aid 

Nonprofit organizations have also been actively involved in recovery efforts. Samaritan’s Purse has set up six response sites in communities that were devastated by Hurricane Helene—two in Florida, one in Georgia, and three in North Carolina (also serving eastern TN). Across these locations, over 37,000 volunteers have served over 5,000 families by mudding out homes, clearing debris, tarping roofs, and salvaging personal items. 

(Source: Samaritan’s Purse)

“This relief work will continue until every request for help has been addressed,” a Samaritan’s Purse spokesperson told Carolina Journal. “With infrastructure severely damaged, the ministry coordinated 358 air missions – the largest civilian airlift operation in U.S. history—to deliver critical supplies like food and water, generators and fuel, Starlinks, and medical supplies to remote communities across 17 counties.”

Samaritan’s Purse plans to rebuild up to 1,000 homes that were lost to Hurricane Helene. The ministry’s goal is to provide 500 manufactured home replacements and 500 new, stick-built homes. The Hurricane Helene Rebuild Program will also assist with home repairs, furniture replacement, and church grants.