FEMA in Western North Carolina - Thursday, April 9th, 2026

Sen. Ted Budd hosted DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin (in his first official trip) for a roundtable in Chimney Rock on April 7, focusing on Hurricane Helene recovery 18 months later.

Mullin emphasized clearing FEMA backlogs, cutting bureaucracy, and shifting more authority to state/local responders for faster aid. Budd noted $134M recently released and praised Mullin's proactive support. Local leaders discussed ongoing delays in approvals, regs, and funding, plus lessons on communication and resilience for future disasters. Overall, it highlights momentum but calls for structural FEMA reforms to ease burdens on WNC communities.

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