South Asheville News

U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards, in collaboration with the American Flood Coalition, led a roundtable six months following Hurricane Helene's landfall. The meeting was attended by local and federal leaders, including Congressman Tim Moore and Congresswoman Deborah Ross, to assess disaster recovery efforts in Western North Carolina.

The discussions aimed to address challenges in achieving long-term resilience, potential FEMA reforms, and collaborative solutions for rebuilding efforts. Congressman Edwards reflected on the contributions to recovery and acknowledged that more support is still needed. He emphasized the importance of timely access to federal disaster aid to further progress.

"Looking back on the six months since Hurricane Helene hit the mountains of Western North Carolina, I am grateful for all the ways that folks across the nation have contributed to recovery in our mountains," Congressman Edwards stated. He stressed that Western North Carolina is ready to rebuild, needing only prompt access to the resources legislated by the government.

"The greatest takeaway was that Western North Carolina is ready to rebuild, our local leaders just need timely access to the resources passed by government, including the $110 billion in disaster aid from the American Relief Act, to keep making progress," Edwards added, expressing confidence in accelerating recovery with continued focus and collaboration.

In attendance, Tony McEwen, AFC Carolinas Director, reiterated the need for a more effective federal system, highlighting the critical nature of a fast response for communities to rebuild. "The American Flood Coalition is proud to support local leaders from the Western North Carolina Recovery and Resilience Partnership, 15 of whom attended today's roundtable to call for recovery and resilience resources," he said, appreciating the leadership in facilitating discussions with FEMA to address crucial funding inquiries.

Congressman Moore emphasized the necessity of reforming FEMA, pointing out the difficulties families faced during the response. "Families in Western North Carolina showed incredible resilience in the face of devastation, but too many were left behind by a federal response that was slow and buried in bureaucracy," Moore commented.

Congresswoman Ross underscored the importance of bipartisan support in aiding Western North Carolina's recovery. "Today’s roundtable was a productive dialogue about the need to work in a bipartisan way to support Western North Carolina’s long road to full recovery," she said. Ross urged Congress to pass Governor Stein’s request for additional federal assistance to avoid long-term negative impacts on the region.

The event was a moment for leaders to evaluate past progress and plan the way forward in restoring trust in FEMA's responsiveness during disasters.