Edwards leads NC delegation in urging White House to keep vital, disaster recovery resources in WNC

January 13, 2025

U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) today led a bicameral letter urging President Joe Biden and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell to keep vital resources needed for ongoing, hurricane recovery efforts in Western North Carolina in light of the latest natural disaster occurring in California.

Edwards was joined on the letter by Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10), Congressman Mark Harris (NC-08), Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Congressman Brad Knott (NC-13), Congressman Addison McDowell (NC-06), Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14), Congressman Greg Murphy (NC-03), and Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07).

See the full letter below or linked here.

Dear President Biden and Administrator Criswell:

We are writing to express our concern that in light of the latest natural disaster occurring in California, FEMA might be tempted to pull personnel from Western North Carolina who are still vital to our ongoing recovery efforts. We urge you in the strongest manner possible not to draw down manpower from our devastated region.

As members of Congress from the state of North Carolina, we are familiar with the destruction and despair communities experience during and following a natural disaster. While we recognize the urgency of addressing the devastation caused by these fires and extend our support in whatever other ways possible, we implore you to recognize the urgent needs that remain in North Carolina.

Now that the $110 billion disaster relief package has been signed into law, it is critical that FEMA maintain its presence in the affected North Carolina counties to help deploy these resources and help our region recover from the most devastating natural disaster we have ever experienced. We also request that you notify us in advance should you otherwise determine resources should be removed from our great state.

Thank you for understanding the needs of our constituency and keeping all the current FEMA personnel in place.