Fletcher Mayor Preston Blakely, whose western NC community was hit hard by Helene, says they desperately needs the federal relief funds sitting in Washington.
For the town of Fletcher, the year since Hurricane Helene has been a long road. Some residents still don’t have a permanent home to live in and some businesses, including the Diamond Brand factory, which manufactured outdoor equipment for over 100 years, were forced to close. The town is also facing budget difficulties due to Helene-related costs.
Preston Blakely, North Carolina’s youngest mayor, says his community needs the federal funds sitting in Washington. Congress provided $9 billion in funding for North Carolina’s recovery. But nine months later, very little of that money has reached communities like Fletcher.
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