It breaks my heart to see the devastation brought to our beautiful state and all those impacted by Hurricane Helene. The damage is unbelievably catastrophic and communities across western North Carolina face a long road to recovery, but we will be with them every step of the way.
Our North Carolina congressional delegation is working together to ensure these communities have the federal support they need as they recover and rebuild, and my staff and I are in close communication with federal, state and local partners.
Recently, I led Republican members of our delegation in urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to utilize the unoccupied Greensboro Influx Care Facility (ICF) to assist in western North Carolina’s recovery efforts. After my repeated requests, FEMA told us it will have the facility available, but more needs to be done. Countless North Carolinians are now tragically displaced or without basic supplies because of Hurricane Helene, and they must be taken care of and offered every resource available.
My team and I are continuing to receive briefings from FEMA, HHS, North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) and other agencies on their ongoing efforts to help western North Carolina. While I am extremely frustrated by how slow the federal response has been, I am grateful for the service of the first responders, troops, charitable organizations, and individuals across the state and nation who are stepping up and saving lives. I will keep pushing to get more resources and support on the ground quickly because these communities need help.
In support of these efforts, I joined several of my House Republican colleagues in demanding the Biden-Harris administration remove as many federal barriers as possible to make it easier for communities to rebuild homes and businesses. Western North Carolina and all regions affected by Helene do not have the time to deal with burdensome, unnecessary regulations as they work to rebuild from the ground up. The clock is ticking, and if bureaucratic red tape gets in the way, it will be a serious failure by the federal government.
Additionally, I’ve been in contact with our hospitals and health care providers to ensure they have all they need to take care of patients. I’ve been working with HHS to make sure hospitals are open and they have sufficient resources, including medicines and surgical tools, to treat patients throughout the impacted region.
Now is the time for agencies like FEMA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work efficiently and support — not hinder — the recovery effort in North Carolina and across the Southeast. Countless lives have been uprooted, and the last thing they need is government interference.
While this tragedy is a once-in-a-lifetime event, we are reminded that we are Carolina Strong. Back home in our region, I saw firsthand all the people that have stepped up to help collect supplies and send them to our neighbors in western North Carolina. It was truly inspiring to see neighbors helping neighbors, and I’m thankful for all those who are lending a hand.
We continue to pray for everyone affected by this storm. Should you or a family member need assistance, please visit my website for Hurricane Helene resources and information: hudson.house.gov/hurricane-helene-resources.
The road ahead will be incredibly tough, but North Carolinians are resilient.
Richard Hudson represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District.
