Thousands of North Carolina hurricane survivors must leave their FEMA-funded hotel rooms during a severe cold snap.
Key Facts:
– About 2,000 North Carolina households must vacate FEMA-sponsored hotels on Saturday.
– The eviction from these rooms comes as a winter storm approaches with temperatures below 20 degrees.
– FEMA says it has extended some assistance but not for everyone.
– Hurricane Helene made landfall in late September 2024, leaving 104 dead in North Carolina.
– Many community volunteers have helped by donating propane, food, and even campers.
The Rest of The Story:
Residents in Western North Carolina expected to stay in FEMA-sponsored hotel rooms until they could find stable housing or arrange property repairs.
But with FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program set to end for roughly 2,000 households, many fear they will face freezing temperatures without a safe place to live.
Although some families remain eligible for extended support, a sizable number were told to leave within the same weekend that snow and ice were forecasted for the region.
Local volunteer groups and businesses have stepped up in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which tore through the mountains and caused catastrophic flooding.
The storm took more than 100 lives statewide and destroyed power grids, leaving many families in tents or relying on generators for warmth and light.
Donors have offered everything from campers to propane to keep families functioning day to day.
Those who remain displaced say their biggest concern is finding long-term solutions to housing.
Many lost not just their homes but also basic public services, and feel that moving out of the hotel without a better alternative raises serious safety and health concerns.
Some people also worry about existing medical conditions that could worsen in below-freezing weather.
FEMA representatives explain that they evaluate each case and reassess whether a family’s housing is now habitable.
Survivors who remain in the program receive extended hotel support.
Others, however, are told their time is up, leaving local volunteers to fill in the gaps.
Some critics blame bureaucratic slowdowns for the confusion and timing, questioning whether more could have been done to keep vulnerable survivors from being forced out in the cold.
The Bottom Line:
FEMA’s winding down of temporary shelter has created new struggles for many Hurricane Helene survivors, who are left searching for safe housing just as a winter storm arrives.
While volunteers and nonprofits work tirelessly to offer assistance, families are under pressure to find solutions before freezing weather sets in.