Nearly 2 months after disaster, Helene survivors facing winter with no heat, some in tents – National & International News – TUE 19Nov2024

Nearly two months after Hurricane Helene, recovery is slow. Some residents are facing immediate survival needs as winter approaches. FEMA is under fire and short of funds. How can you help those in need?

Throughout Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina, there are limited signs of recovery in areas affected by Tropical Storm Helene in late September. The gargantuan task of debris removal is slowly progressing. A boil water advisory has just been lifted for 100,000 residents in and around Asheville, NC. Power has been restored to nearly all customers in both states. Some businesses in the tourism-dependent areas of North Carolina have reopened, but the tourism business has not exactly been booming this year.

Hundreds of thousands of homeowners in each state who lost everything are facing a years-long road to recovery. Since very few had flood insurance, any relief they get will be from federal and state aid programs, and that relief is slow in coming.

Thousands of people who have lost their homes have more immediate survival needs as they face a rough winter. Some have received trailers donated by volunteer organizations. FEMA trailers are only starting to be placed around North Carolina. Many in remote communities, such as Swannanoa, NC, are still living in tents.

In these areas, fuel to run generators for trailers or kerosene for heaters are also hard to come by. Volunteer organizations are doing their best to obtain and distribute fuel to those who need it most. These organizations remain in need of donations and, crucially, volunteers.

“Abandoned” by FEMA

FEMA has distributed over $2 billion to families and communities affected by Helene and Hurricane Milton. However, that recovery and distribution has not been even across the affected area. Some communities, particularly more rural communities, have felt left out and even abandoned by FEMA and by the federal government generally.

In the aftermath of Helene and Milton, many seeking help have been unable to get through to FEMA. Some who were hoping for relief from the Small Business Administration, which provides low interest loans for businesses and homeowners after a disaster, have also been disappointed. The agency’s funds ran out over a month ago.

Misinformation that has circulated about FEMA has caused some security concerns and operational difficulties. Also, one FEMA coordinator was fired for advising canvassers not to go to homes with “Trump 2024” yard signs. During a House Oversight Committee hearing on FEMA’s disaster response, FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell told lawmakers she believes this was an isolated incident. However, she has encouraged the Office of the Inspector General to investigate further.

Misinformation and the perception of political bias have certainly diminished the public’s trust in FEMA. However, the greatest source of frustration arises from the bureaucratic difficulties individuals and communities typically face when trying to get relief from the agency.

During today’s hearing, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida told Criswell, “The number one thing that hurts FEMA’s reputation is the fact that so many citizens are denied [assistance] when they apply, the first time they come through the FEMA portal”. After Hurricane Ian in 2022, Donalds’ office often had to intercede on behalf of constituents who had initially been denied assistance. “If that is going to be the protocol for how citizens get help from the Emergency Management Agency, then it needs to be completely revamped,” Donalds said.

Biden asks for $100 billion for disaster relief

Following Hurricane Helene, Department of Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas wanted that FEMA was facing a budget shortfall. This could drastically impede recovery in the affected areas.

After a request from members of Congress representing states affected by Milton and Helene, President Biden has requested nearly $100 billion dollars in emergency disaster aid. This would include:

• $40 billion for FEMA’s main disaster relief fund. This money goes to help with debris removal, repairs to public infrastructure, and financial assistance to survivors and communities.
• $24 billion to aid farmers who suffered crop or livestock losses
• $12 billion for block grants to communities through the Department of Housing and Urban Development
• $8 billion to repair highways and bridges in over 40 States
• $4 billion dollars to improve the resiliency of water infrastructure.
• $2 billion for the Small Business Administration.

However, the request is facing resistance from some Republicans in Congress. President-elect Trump has signaled that he wants to drastically reduce the role of FEMA in disaster response, putting more of the financial burden for recovery on states and local communities. If this comes to pass, poor communities, such as those that are suffering most in Tennessee and North Carolina, will be ill-equipped to rebuild.

Some deficit hawks have also complained that the aid package request is not offset by spending cuts elsewhere. Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina called it “a spending spree”. It is worth noting that Norman, like most Republicans who are balking at the package’s price tag, had no problem approving hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of military aid for Israel and Ukraine.

How can you help?

Volunteers and private aid organizations are the first and most efficient at bringing immediate relief to those affected by natural disasters. Not only are these organizations organizing on the ground to respond to immediate needs, they are committed to long term recovery efforts in the area.

If you want to donate, here are some resources:

Eastern Tennessee

Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund – Eastern Tennessee

United Way of East TN Highlands.

TN Baptist Disaster Relief.

Appalachia Service Project.

Western North Carolina

Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa.

Beacon Foundation.

Western Carolina Emergency Network.

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.

If you want to and are able to do more than donate, here are some links for volunteer opportunities in North Carolina and Tennessee.