North Charlotte Today

Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd have formally requested President Biden to deploy federal disaster recovery resources, including temporary housing assistance, for families affected by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina. The senators emphasized the urgency of moving families from hotels back to their homes before winter.

In their letter, they highlighted the unprecedented nature of Hurricane Helene and noted that North Carolina has already allocated over $1.1 billion to the Hurricane Helene Fund. They also referenced the American Relief Act of 2025, which was signed into law on December 21, 2024, providing additional disaster relief funding to the state.

The senators expressed concern over FEMA's slow progress in deploying direct temporary housing resources. "While more than 5,600 North Carolina households are currently enrolled in FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) hotels, FEMA has made little to no progress in deploying direct temporary housing resources," they stated. Only 93 families have been placed in FEMA direct housing since the hurricane hit over three months ago.

The letter urged President Biden to expedite federal disaster recovery efforts and remove regulatory barriers hindering progress. "We appreciate your prompt consideration of this request and stand ready to work with you to correct course and deliver long-overdue assistance to Hurricane Helene survivors," they concluded.