Federal disaster response efforts face scrutiny as Hurricane Helene survivors grapple with inadequate aid and looming winter challenges.
At a Glance
- Federal assistance for Hurricane Helene survivors has surpassed $137 million
- FEMA is ending Transitional Sheltering Assistance for around 3,500 households in North Carolina
- Project 2025 proposes eliminating federal aid for families and businesses rebuilding after storms
- The number of federal disaster declarations has increased significantly over the past four decades
- Some residents report difficulties with FEMA’s inspection process and communication
Federal Response to Hurricane Helene
The Biden administration has mobilized a federal response to Hurricane Helene, with FEMA at involved in recovery efforts in the Southeast. Nearly 7,000 federal personnel have been deployed, including FEMA staff, to assist in the aftermath of the disaster. The agency has distributed over 14.9 million meals, 13.9 million liters of water, 157 generators, and 505,000 tarps to affected regions.
Despite these efforts, the effectiveness of federal intervention remains a point of contention. The reality on the ground paints a more complex picture of the government’s ability to meet the needs of disaster survivors.
Federal disaster assistance is available to the state of California to supplement recovery efforts in areas affected by wildfires and straight-line winds from Jan. 7, 2025, and continuing.
More: https://t.co/LQeRl0xLLm
— FEMA (@fema) January 9, 2025
Challenges in Disaster Recovery
As winter approaches, FEMA’s decision to end Transitional Sheltering Assistance for approximately 3,500 households in North Carolina has sparked controversy. This move comes at a critical time when temperatures are dropping, and snow is expected in areas like Asheville. The timing of this decision has left many survivors feeling abandoned by the very system meant to support them.
“I have nowhere else to go but in the streets. I’ve called them several times. They have not answered anything, they have not extended, they told me I had to be out by January 10,” one woman affected by the decision said.
The situation echoes the skepticism famously expressed by President Ronald Reagan, who once remarked, “I think you all know that I’ve always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help’.” This sentiment seems to resonate with those currently struggling to navigate the complexities of federal aid programs.
Proposals for Reform
Adding to the ongoing debate about federal disaster response is Project 2025, which proposes eliminating federal aid for families and businesses rebuilding after storms. The proposal specifically targets the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) disaster loan program, the federal government’s largest source of disaster recovery funds. Project 2025 argues for the “end to SBA direct lending,” claiming it “reduces individuals’ incentives to purchase disaster-related insurance.”
However, this proposal comes at a time when home insurance rates have increased nearly 20% nationally from 2021 to 2023, with some states experiencing even higher rates. Critics argue that privatizing disaster loans could leave many Americans vulnerable in the face of increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters.
The Growing Scale of Disaster Response
Since 1980, there have been 391 extreme weather events with losses of at least $1 billion, costing nearly $2.8 trillion and causing over 16,000 deaths. This escalation is reflected in the number of federal disaster declarations, which has risen from 286 between 1980-1989 to 1,267 from 2014-2023.
As the scale of these disasters grows, so too does the need for effective federal intervention. However, the experiences of many survivors suggest that current systems may be struggling to keep pace with the increasing demands placed upon them.
