Old North News

Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) said the response from private citizens, volunteer organizations, and local governments has been vital in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, showcasing the leadership needed for recovery despite a lackluster federal response. He stressed the importance of ensuring that Western North Carolina receives every resource necessary for rebuilding as communities navigate significant challenges.

“Even though the federal response was flat-footed, it was the private citizens, volunteer organizations, and local governments who stepped up and showed the leadership NC needed,” Sen. Budd wrote in an Oct. 7 social media post on X. “We’re not going to let up. Western NC must receive every resource they need to recover and rebuild.”

As previously reported by Old North News, Budd recently criticized the Biden-Harris administration for what he called a misallocation of resources, particularly pointing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) announcement that it may lack sufficient funds to cover the remainder of the hurricane season. Budd blasted the administration for spending over $1.4 billion to house illegal migrants while simultaneously claiming FEMA is underfunded. 

“It’s outrageous that the Biden-Harris administration claims that FEMA may not have the money to make it through hurricane season after they allocated over $1.4 billion to house illegal aliens who should have never been in this country,” Budd posted on X.

FEMA's funding concerns were revealed by Homeland Security Director Alejandro Mayorkas on October 3, as reported by Axios. His comments followed Hurricane Helene, which left a trail of devastation across six southeastern states, requiring significant rebuilding efforts. Vice President Kamala Harris later announced that storm victims with immediate needs, such as food and baby formula, could apply for $750 in FEMA relief.

Budd’s criticisms echo frustrations shared by other Republicans, including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who on the Oct. 6 edition of Meet the Press accused the administration of mismanaging resources. Cotton highlighted that while the administration can find money for non-emergency priorities like student loan relief, it struggles to allocate funds for urgent disaster recovery needs. “This administration seems to have no problem finding money when they want to spend it on their priorities... when it's trying to get helicopters to deliver food and water and life-saving medicine into these mountain valleys, they somehow can't seem to find the money," Cotton said.

In addition to Budd's criticism, Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) condemned the administration for sending $157 million in aid to Lebanon while only allocating $100 million for North Carolina’s recovery efforts. “This shows you their priorities are not America First,” Mast wrote in an Oct. 5 social media post on X.

Despite the ongoing political dispute over disaster relief funding, organizations like Samaritan’s Purse are on the ground providing immediate assistance. The Boone-based Christian relief organization is helping with efforts in Western North Carolina by tarping roofs, clearing debris, and mudding out homes. "While the flood waters continue to recede, the spiritual and physical needs will remain for weeks and months ahead," the organization said.