Congress to use hearing to probe FEMA’s response to Helene in North Carolina

The 25th week of recovery across the mountains is wrapping up with fiscal assistance packages still moving through federal and state channels.

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

Published: March 23, 2025 11:15pm

(The Center Square) -

FEMA's response to Hurricane Helene, and possibly lack thereof, in North Carolina has prompted a congressional subcommittee hearing this week.

"Oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency: Operational Challenges and Opportunities for Reform," as it is entitled, will be heard by the Committee on Oversight’s subcommittee on Government Operations.

The 25th week of recovery across the mountains is wrapping up with fiscal assistance packages still moving through federal and state channels. Approved assistance from FEMA is more than $10 million, the agency within the Department of Homeland Security said in a release Wednesday.

“Recent hurricanes devastated communities across the United States, including those in North Carolina,” said Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, the chairman of the subcommittee. “FEMA has a responsibility to utilize every tool at their disposal to deliver aid to the countless Americans still in need. In the aftermath of these deadly storms, it has become clear that reports of delays in critical assistance and unclear communication can overshadow FEMA’s mission.

“While natural disasters are unpredictable, FEMA’s operation should not be. Since August of 2023, the Government Operations Subcommittee has conducted oversight over federal disaster assistance. Our subcommittee will continue to examine reform opportunities and work to ensure Americans in North Carolina and other communities impacted by storms are receiving the help they expect and deserve.”

Funding from the state has totaled more than $1.4 billion following Gov. Josh Stein signing a fourth spending package on Thursday. Federal funding, in addition to FEMA, is about $9 billion of a $110 billion package approved in December.

Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Dekle Beach, Fla., on Sept. 26. It was expected to come north to the Appalachian Mountains; however, the rainfall total from its dissipation there exceeded all forecasts.

Damage estimates were $53 billion from Gov. Roy Cooper last fall and nearing $60 billion from Stein in February as he met with North Carolina’s senators in Washington and this month in his State of the State address.