Staff Reports
In North Carolina, Republicans are stepping up to help their constituents as winter looms like a poorly timed Christmas sweater. Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, along with Representatives Chuck Edwards and Virginia Foxx, have decided that it’s high time for President Biden to ease up on the bureaucratic chokehold of FEMA regulations, especially as the fallout from Hurricane Helene continues to wreak havoc in the area. With approximately 100,000 homes left in shambles following the storm, one can only hope the chilly weather doesn’t start to cause frostbite on the hopes of those displaced.
The quartet of lawmakers recently put pen to paper in a letter that emphasized the chilling facts on the ground. With winter fast approaching, reports from constituents reveal a rather grim situation: families struggling to find safe, adequate temporary shelters, while some have resorted to camping out in tents. That’s right—while liberal elites are wintering in their second or third homes, regular folks in North Carolina are bundling up in makeshift accommodations. It’s the kind of ice-cold irony that might just send a shiver down the spine of any decent human being.
What’s making this situation even trickier is FEMA’s regulations that dictate temporary housing can’t be nestled in Special Flood Hazard Areas. So, as common sense suggests that people might want to stay on their own property after a disaster, the powers that be have decided that protecting homeowners from potential flooding trumps the need for actual shelter. That’s right—your government in action: more focused on red tape than red hot humanitarian solutions.
The lawmakers pointed out that while the move to protect homeowners was all well and good, it ultimately resulted in people being denied the resources they so desperately need. They highlighted a troubling precedent set earlier this year, when FEMA allowed temporary housing units in Florida’s Special Flood Hazard Areas, yet North Carolinians still face an uphill battle. It’s almost as if the federal government has adopted a “flood benefits for some, but not for you” policy. A real knee-slapper, if anyone finds irony amusing.
Their request came after Biden requested that Congress approve nearly $100 billion in disaster aid, $40 billion of which would be directed toward FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. https://t.co/MTT7gZ6eDt
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 24, 2024
This bipartisan plea comes on the heels of Biden’s push for nearly $100 billion in disaster relief funding, of which $40 billion would help FEMA. While it’s great that money is being thrown around like confetti at a wedding, it raises the glaring question: why not streamline the process so the folks in North Carolina can actually benefit? As winter draws nearer, the only thing colder than the upcoming temperatures could be the icy reception of red tape. It seems like a little common sense and a flicker of compassion from Washington could go a long way in warming up the homes—and hearts—of those affected by the disaster.
Ultimately, North Carolina’s representatives are hoping the Biden administration hears this call for help louder than the sound of snowflakes falling in January. Winter is coming, and while Game of Thrones may have had its dragons, there are real-life families facing some daunting forecasts without the help they need. With any luck, the President sees the light and acts before those frostbitten hopes turn into a full-blown ice age.
