North Carolinians are on the hook for additional Hurricane Helene recovery funds after Donald Trump’s FEMA denied Governor Josh Stein’s request to extend the federal government’s assistance. Deemed by the agency as “unwarranted,” the rejection was the second in as many months in the governor’s attempt to have disaster recovery fully covered by the federal government.
Cost share at 100% expired 180 days after September 25, and the state’s request to extend that period was denied on April 11. Stein appealed and was recently denied. He said it will cost up to $2 billion to fully clean roads and waterways in Western North Carolina, which is why he hoped to have 100% federal reimbursement to clear debris extended past 180 days.
via Justin Berger, WLOS/NewsChannel9
Hurricane Helene caused roughly $60B in damages which means—barring any further appeals or grants—state taxpayers will have cover the missing 10%. As Justin Berger notes for WLOS/NewsChannel9, extensions of 100% coverage in federal clean-up costs were granted after much-larger storms.
Hurricanes Ike, Maria, and Katrina all moved past 180 days at 100% reimbursement for clean-up costs.
via Justin Berger, WLOS/NewsChannel9
Berger goes on to note that a few weeks prior, Cameron Hamilton, FEMA’s acting administrator, was replaced by David Richardson, an assistant secretary for DHS‘ Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
AUTHOR FOOTNOTE
As I’ve pointed out on Twitter and Bluesky: Donald and his flock have screwed over the people of North Carolina on both ends. That is to say, in immediate aftermath of the deadly storm, Trump’s goons were on the ground, disrupting FEMA’s response (at the time run by Biden officials) and spreading nonsense conspiracies.
Weather control. Lithium mining. FEMA confiscating donations. All of it was bollocks, often pushed even by Donald’s operatives in Congress. (See the PBS link below for a round-up of the derpy ridiculousness.)
And today, the newly re-throned erstwhile monarch is having a little tantrum likely because Stein is a Democrat and he has another opportunity to be petty.
SOURCES
- TheMaineWonk on Twitter/X
- WLOS NewsChannel9
- PBS
