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FEMA fumbles big time on promise to deliver houses for NC families; meanwhile, the Amish come through…

January 1, 2025 | | Print Article

A new year and President Joe Biden’s imminent exit drew more attention to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s shocking failure in North Carolina.

Months after Hurricane Helene barreled into the state and upended lives and property, FEMA’s embarrassing progress in getting help to North Carolina storm victims has again come under scrutiny.

Despite promises to get temporary homes for 26 families by Christmas, FEMA allegedly made good on only three.

“FEMA officials confirm only three families are in trailers out of 26 trailers total,” WLOS reported. “FEMA reports weather and utility connection issues have caused delays in the final installation.”

According to a spokesperson for the federal agency, “23 families have been identified and required background checks are taking place. We are continuing to work and get families into these homes as quickly as possible.”

Western North Carolina farmers also devastated by the storm continue to hold out hope as they call “desperately for financial aid that, as of yet, remains undelivered by state or federal bodies,” according to WYFF.

A FEMA spokesperson had promised in November that more than 100 trailers and manufactured homes would be delivered to families but when they failed to reach that goal, a spokesperson told WBTV that “the agency will not be issuing timelines for the delivery of the homes anymore because it is too difficult to confirm a timeline. They said that was, in part, because of the necessary utilities not being confirmed at the planned site, the weather conditions, roads being open, and the recipient showing at the scheduled time.”

Meanwhile, the agency announced it signed a lease for a 117,000-square-foot office building in North Carolina to “assist with disaster relief.”

As FEMA delivered more excuses than homes, it seems other groups have not had issues with helping the victims.

Even though their homes in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, are miles away from the devasted Western North Carolina area, the Amish became the “MVPs of 2024.”

FEMA’s embarrassing performance despite its mission of “helping people before, during and after disasters,” continues as Congress gifted the agency another $29 billion to use for disaster relief in passing the continuing resolution last month.

Samaritan’s Purse has also had boots on the ground in the area, recently releasing a video of the Christian organization giving one family an RV while updating the help they have been providing to victims.

(Video Credit: Samaritan’s Purse)

Frieda Powers
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