FACT CHECK: Whatley’s Western North Carolina Claims Don’t Hold Up

Raleigh, NC  —  In a new tweet, GOP Senate Candidate Michael Whatley claims that he’ll continue working with the Trump Administration to secure the support Western North Carolina needs to recover and rebuild from Hurricane Helene. But as Trump’s appointed Hurricane Recovery “ Czar,” Whatley failed to provide the resources our communities in Western North Carolina needed. 

Here are the facts:  

• Western NC residents say Whatley has fallen short. Trump’s appointed Hurricane Recovery “czar” has left Western NC residents still waiting for support. Residents have seen a federal gridlock stalling hurricane recovery. Some residents even called for him to be removed from the FEMA Review Council.
• North Carolina has received only 15% of what is needed for Hurricane Helene Recovery. Helene left behind $60 billion in damage and has been the costliest natural disaster in North Carolina history. 
• The FEMA Review Council, where Whatley is the co-chair of the Final Report Subcommittee, recommended reducing aid to states. The FEMA Review Council report called for reducing the federal cost share for emergency declarations, which North Carolina said could have left the state and local governments on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in additional costs if it was in place during Hurricane Helene.

Climate Power’s North Carolina State Director, Terryn Hall:

“North Carolina families have had to fight tooth and nail for two years to get recovery support for Helene, and Michael Whatley has been no help. These claims fly in the face of their reality. Plain and simple, Western North Carolina families are desperately behind in getting the help they need, and he has been nowhere to be found. ” 

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