News

Edwards urges FEMA to expedite delivery of temp housing

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 29, 2024

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards said this week he is working on one of the more urgent hurricane relief needs as winter approaches — securing temporary homes for families displaced by Helene.

“Immediate needs have largely been met, so now we must turn toward our community’s long-term needs like housing through the winter and rebuilding the homes and businesses that were destroyed,” Edwards said in a storm update Monday.

He is urging officials to expedite delivery of FEMA housing trailers.

“In past disasters, these trailers have taken months to be delivered,” he said. “With winter approaching, that’s not going to cut it for WNC. Our people need warm places to stay NOW, not in six months, and I’m reiterating that to FEMA daily until the necessary trailers get delivered.”

Edwards reported in an Oct. 24 newsletter that he had been granted an exemption from the “blackout” provision of the franking privilege, which bars certain mass communications from members of Congress to constituents within 60 days of a primary or general election.

“The House Communications Standards Commission told me I have had 'ample time' to communicate with you” about Helene, he said. “Despite folks still being without critical needs like water, power and housing, the Commission felt three weeks was long enough. According to them, nobody was in danger anymore, so there was no need to continue my communication.

“I wholeheartedly disagreed,” he said.

He cited newly opened Disaster Recovery Centers, changing food and water distribution sites and new shelter locations.

“These resources all support the life and safety of Western North Carolinians, and folks running these places are relying on my communication with you to get the word out. So, I told the Commission that I wasn’t going to comply.”

He received word last Wednesday that he could continue to send out the updates. “The Commission has finally realized the dire need for this communication and that Western NC is not healed,” he said.