The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed that over 1500 displaced Helene victims in western North Carolina are still living in hotels. 

According to a report from FEMA Assistant Federal Coordinating Officer Hannah Vick, who presented the information last Thursday, most of these are Buncombe County residents. 

“What we see, especially with individuals in hotels, is that the recovery process for some families is not linear. They might be staying with friends and family right now, and then in a week or two, they call us and say: ‘I need a place to live,'” said Vick, according to a Monday report from the Asheville Citizen-Times. 

County Commissioner for District One, Al Whitesides, inquired if hotels would continue to serve tourists next summer. County Manager Avril Pinder said they are paid at a “fair market rate” and will continue to be used. Pinder also indicated that it is likely that some properties will not be able to sustain new or temporary housing, according to the Citizen-Times. 

Approximately 400 properties are being assessed for their eligibility to sustain temporary housing. Most of these potential sites are commercial sites where infrastructure and utilities are likely already present, according to Vick. 

“We might put a manufactured housing unit on an already established commercial pad,” said Vick. FEMA could also establish a “group site,” a large plot of land with several manufactured housing units for displaced residents.  

This was also reported in an X post by reporter Matt Von Swol today. 

This week, FEMA has come under heavy scrutiny concerning allegations by a whistleblower that FEMA employees were instructed to avoid homes with Trump signs. 

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is set to appear before the House Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure next Tuesday in regard to the agency’s response and preparedness to disasters such as Hurricanes Helen and Milton.