OPINION: Where Western NC stands a year after Hurricane Helene

This week, as we approach the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene–one of the worst natural disasters ever to hit western North Carolina–it’s important to take stock of how we’re doing. Where do we stand and what do we still need? Who helped and who didn’t?

I’m a native of Buncombe County with family in the area stretching back multiple generations, so this is personal to me. As someone who works advocating on environmental issues with our elected officials, I have a professional opinion as well.

In terms of the people impacted by this storm, my admiration and appreciation for their commitment to help their neighbors even as they faced hardship of their own, combined with their grit, determination, and resilience in coming back from Helene’s devastating impact is off the charts. The people of western NC demonstrate why I’m proud to say that’s where I’m from.

Nonprofits also did an incredible job after the storm–organizations providing meals, putting solar microgrids in place to reestablish power, donating and distributing winter clothing, opening churches as community relief centers. The list goes on.

As for the government response, the reviews are more mixed. Local governments really stepped in. With the immediate aftermath of the storm, they worked to serve their communities and stand them back up. In many cases, they spent huge amounts of money expecting they could rely on the reimbursement promise of the federal government. This is normal following natural disasters.

At the state level, then-Gov. Roy Cooper was on the ground almost immediately after the storm. He was in constant contact with state and federal agencies to mobilize resources. His leadership was critical.

When current Gov. Josh Stein took office in January, he made recovery from Helene a top priority from day one. He has been a constant presence, working to move rebuilding forward, especially opening roads and bridges that allow commerce to flow. He established the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western NC (GROW NC) with a focus on incorporating greater resilience in rebuilding to help prepare for future storms. And he and first lady Anna Stein have spent significant time in the region to encourage others to visit and spend tourism dollars that are vital to the regional economy. Last week, he traveled to Washington to detail additional funding requests, while urging previously approved money be released.

The Republican majority in the state legislature has been unimpressive. Following the November election, they used Helene relief as cover for a partisan power grab. This year, they have consistently provided less support for recovery than Stein requested. Most significantly, they have not provided relief funds for small businesses that are struggling to survive.

Our Congressional delegation and Congress have generally been responsive. They initially passed nearly $10 billion in Helene relief. Hopefully, they will be receptive to the next round of requests from Stein.

The biggest obstacle to recovery has been the current administration, especially the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, and the newly-established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was the opposite of efficient. They have both held up the distribution of relief funds.

So far, the federal government has distributed approximately $3.8 billion of the $10 billion appropriated by Congress. This is a slap in the face.

In total, federal support to date amounts to approximately 9% of the total damage western North Carolina suffered. By comparison, storms that were similarly devastating–such as Hurricanes Katrina, Maria, and Sandy–saw more than 70% of the cost of recovery efforts covered by federal funding. Stein’s $23 billion request last week would bring the federal support North Carolina received to 47%.

North Carolinians aren’t looking for a handout. We just want to be treated fairly, before it’s too late. Farmers, small businesses, and local governments are hanging by a thread. We need officials in Washington to do their job and act with urgency, not hide behind empty rhetoric about creating efficiency.

The increasing frequency of extreme weather is a new reality for people across North Carolina, and across the country. We need the federal government to get better at relief and recovery, not worse.