NC, SC, TN Hurricane Helene Recovery; FEMA What? FEMA Who? FEMA Please!

Struggles Persist for North/South Carolina and Tennessee Residents After Catastrophic Flooding as Relief Efforts Fall Short Almost Two Months Later…

In the wake of devastating floods and landslides that struck parts of North Carolina and Tennessee earlier this year, residents are finding themselves caught in a prolonged struggle to rebuild their lives. Despite widespread destruction, many homeowners say they’re receiving insufficient assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other relief agencies, while state and federal buyout offers fall far short of fair market values, leaving them in financial jeopardy.

Months after heavy rains caused rivers and creeks to overflow, resulting in historic flooding and landslides that swept away homes, vehicles, and entire roadways, numerous families are still displaced, living with relatives or in temporary housing. Many who applied for FEMA assistance report that their claims were denied, often without clear explanations. Some who were approved received only modest grants that pale in comparison to the costs of rebuilding or relocating.

“I lost everything,” said Judy Thompson, a resident of Canton, North Carolina, whose home was inundated by floodwaters from the Pigeon River. “When I reached out to FEMA, they offered me just a few thousand dollars. That’s not even close to enough to replace my home, let alone my belongings.”

In nearby Tennessee, residents in hard-hit areas like Waverly report similar experiences, where landslides have left entire hillsides unstable. Without adequate support, many are forced to remain in unsafe living conditions. “We’ve seen houses on the edge of collapse,” said Tom Lawson, a community volunteer helping families in Waverly. “People can’t just pick up and move without real assistance.”

FEMA has pointed to strict eligibility guidelines, which exclude residents who may lack proper documentation or have homes classified as high-risk due to their proximity to waterways. However, critics argue that the agency’s approach is exacerbating an already desperate situation, leaving the most vulnerable to fend for themselves.

Additionally, government property buyout programs, intended to relocate residents out of flood-prone areas, have been met with frustration. The offers being made are significantly below market value, leaving residents unable to purchase comparable homes elsewhere. “I was offered a buyout that wouldn’t cover half of what it would cost to get a new home,” said Mark Evans, a Tennessee resident. “They’re expecting us to just take what we can get and leave, but it’s not that easy.”

Grassroots and Community Support Stepping Up

In the face of these challenges, grassroots organizations and local charities are stepping in to provide some relief. Volunteers have coordinated cleanup efforts, rebuilt damaged structures, and distributed donations, but they, too, are feeling the strain. “We’re doing everything we can, but we don’t have the resources to help everyone,” said Sarah Andrews, a volunteer with a North Carolina-based nonprofit. “This is where federal support is supposed to come in.”

Community members are now calling on elected officials to intervene and push for additional federal assistance, including the reevaluation of denied FEMA claims and increases in buyout offers to reflect true property values. State officials have expressed concern over the lag in federal aid but stress that solutions will require additional funding and policy changes.

A Call for Change

Environmental advocates warn that the increasing frequency of extreme weather, driven by climate change, underscores the need for comprehensive national policies to address climate resilience, with a particular focus on rural and underserved areas that often face barriers to receiving aid.

As the people of North Carolina and Tennessee continue to grapple with the aftermath, accounting for missing people and the dead, they are speaking out, urging both federal and state governments to step up and provide the help they need to rebuild their lives.

Let’s all hope “they”smarten up quick and use our resources on our struggling countrymen first as winter is upon us. Furthermore, there are now reports of DFS/DCF taking kids from their parents as they have no place to live anymore.