Tillis to testify about need for Helene relief in western NC

Sen. Thom Tillis is expected to call for more federal disaster relief funding for North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene Wednesday during a hearing with the Senate Appropriates Committee. 

The hearing comes just one day after Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell faced questions from House lawmakers over the agency’s response to recent disasters, including Helene. Criswell’s testimony followed allegations that a FEMA staff member ignored victims with Trump signs in their yards in Florida. That now-fired employee said that also happened in North Carolina, but not specifically for homes with Trump signs. 

RELATED: How you can help people impacted by Helene

Last week, Tillis asked for a Helene relief bill to be passed by unanimous consent but Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky opposed the measure. Tillis accused Paul of grandstanding for an amendment to the bill he knew wouldn’t pass, leaving those impacted by the storm in limbo. If the legislation had been approved, it would’ve sent $500 million to the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program, which ran out of money last month. 

Tillis warned lawmakers that delaying relief money could lead to western North Carolina businesses closing because they don’t have enough money to get through the winter after Helene wiped out fall tourism in the region. 

“They cannot make it through winter,” he said. “They’ve lost their peak season month of October, November and in December, they can’t make it through winter unless we provide support.” 

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