ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A year after Tropical Storm Helene devastated Western North Carolina, state lawmakers say recovery remains slow and are warning that federal cuts to FEMA could leave communities without the resources needed to rebuild or prepare for future storms.
During a virtual news conference Thursday, legislators described mounting frustrations with delayed disaster aid, complex federal processes and what they say is growing political pressure around storm recovery.
Sen. Julie Mayfield, D-Buncombe, called FEMA indispensable but said its processes are “too slow, too complex and too political.” She urged the state to consider using $1.6 billion in state funds to buy out damaged homes through the hazard mitigation program rather than waiting for federal approval.
“We have people paying mortgages on homes that no longer exist while also paying rent elsewhere,” Mayfield said. “There is no need for that to continue. The state has the money, and we could act immediately.”
Rep. Brian Turner, D-Buncombe, recalled community efforts in the immediate aftermath of the storm — from nurses setting up field hospitals to kayakers rescuing residents and their pets — but said recovery has been hampered by bureaucracy. Turner warned of future risks, including unstable slopes, damaged dams and private roads that don’t qualify neatly for state or federal aid.
Rep. Pricey Harrison, D-Guilford, placed Helene in the broader context of climate change, saying North Carolina must prepare for stronger and more frequent storms. She cautioned against proposals from the Trump administration to dismantle FEMA, which she said provides more than 80 percent of North Carolina’s emergency management funding.
“FEMA is not perfect, but it is essential,” Harrison said. “Eliminating it would devastate our ability to respond to increasingly severe weather.”
North Carolina has received only about 10 percent of the $60 billion in estimated damage from Helene through federal aid so far, lawmakers said.
The legislators urged bipartisan cooperation, reforms to streamline recovery and more investment in mitigation efforts, including stronger building codes, slope protections and landslide mapping.
“Recovery should not be political,” Mayfield said. “It should be about getting people the help they need as quickly as possible.”
