Edwards Defends His Work in FEMA Recovery
The claim in the December 17 issue of Hendersonville Lightning that FEMA has failed to support Western North Carolina’s recovery after Hurricane Helene not only fails to address the pretense of the story where, as a Congressman, I was tasked to help fix FEMA, but also overlooks the scope and reality of a large, ongoing recovery effort. Focusing narrowly on a single payment to a single county, which, by the way, admits nearly is nearly 50% paid, does not reflect the full picture of how disaster recovery works, or the significant resources already delivered to our region. And it misrepresents the progress being made for communities across Western North Carolina.
By no means am I defending FEMA. It is broken, and there is plenty of room for improvement. Instead, I seek to set the record straight on how, in much broader terms, I’ve used the House seat with which I’ve been entrusted to make needed reforms, and at the same time assist in the disaster recovery of WNC. As an appointee to FEMA’s task force, I’ve brought dozens of legislators to WNC to hear directly from hurricane victims. I’ve met with senior officials, including the Vice President, on multiple occasions advocating for the specific needs of WNC. I’ve testified before multiple committees on several occasions, advocating for reforms, including the FEMA Review Council. Four bills I’ve written to reform FEMA are included in the House FEMA Act of 2026. Since Hurricane Helene struck our mountains, the federal government has now obligated more than $7 billion in disaster relief for North Carolina. Western North Carolina alone has received over $1 billion in FEMA Public Assistance to rebuild infrastructure, restore essential services, and support long-term recovery. Most recently, the Department of Homeland Security released an additional $116 million for 44 projects across our region, including dam repairs, roads, water systems, and emergency protective measures. That is not a “glacial pace” — it is sustained, large-scale recovery.
Beyond FEMA Public Assistance, Western North Carolina has received billions more through emergency highway funding, HUD disaster recovery grants, agricultural assistance, low-interest disaster loans, and direct aid to families. More than 160,859 households have received assistance, and many families who relied on FEMA temporary housing have already transitioned into permanent housing solutions. 98% of our roads are now open, 100% of our water systems are again functioning, and over 7 million cubic yards of debris have been removed.
Is the work finished? No. Recovery never is. But claims that I failed to support Western North Carolina ignore both the scale of funding already delivered and the tangible progress occurring every day. My office continues working directly with FEMA and local governments to advance projects, resolve eligibility challenges, and improve the system where it needs fixing.
Criticism should be fair and grounded in the full record. Western North Carolina’s recovery is real, substantial, and ongoing.
Submitted to Hendersonville Lightning