Are you still rebuilding after Hurricane Helene?

We want to hear from you.

www.theassemblync.com/environment/...

10/ A year after Helene’s destruction, the Hills expect to move back in any day.
1000s of others aren’t even close.

Michelle now lives alone in a donated camper. Moving into a permanent home feels more unreachable than ever.

www.theassemblync.com/environment/...

9/ FEMA did not respond to the news organizations’ requests for comment.

The agency previously told the U.S. Government Accountability Organization that it encourages all survivors with property damage to apply, and those with minimal damage are “driving down the average award amount.”

8/ The agency was working to improve its online application, but under the Trump administration, the team has disintegrated.

In January, the team had at least 10 people. Now, sources said, it’s down to two.

7/ FEMA has faced years of criticism from people applying for aid.
inconsistent payouts
an onerous application process
incomprehensible communication

6/ Michelle requested more rental assistance and uploaded an employer letter, a rental agreement, utility bills and a rent receipt. She called FEMA repeatedly.

In June, her husband died. She called in July, but wait times were over 2 hours.

She stopped calling.

5/ In Haywood County, Michelle & Jeff Parker returned to their home to find it had flooded with 8 feet of water. They had just rebuilt after flooding in 2021.

They applied for a buyout, seeking FEMA’s rental assistance to help while they’re displaced. One rental payment came.

4/ In Yancey County, the Hill family received $0 from their insurance but neared the maximum $42,500 payout from FEMA.

With school closed for nearly two months after Helene, the two-teacher family had time to push for FEMA aid, get estimates and upload documents.

3/ Disparities in who receives FEMA aid have long been known to researchers, like @sarahlabo.bsky.social , a Senior Fellow at @carnegieendowment.org, who studies and writes about disasters.

2/ A year after Hurricane Helene ravaged Western NC, @jenniferberryhawes.bsky.social & I reported on FEMA aid in the 10 counties where the storm hit hardest.

In some counties, the highest-income homeowners received 2-3x as much housing assistance as those with lower incomes.

In the Small Digital Organization Sports Reporting category,
@renlarson.bsky.social won for her story on the US Performance Center.
www.theassemblync.com/politics/oly...

An audit of $25 million awarded to the for-profit company found they misspent $6.2M state funds -- attempting to bill state taxpayers for alcohol, IRS late payment fees, interest, a personal vehicle, contributions to NASCAR driver Richard Childress' charity, etc www.theassemblync.com/politics/oly...

We wrote about the #ncga awarding a for-profit company and its nonprofit $55 million to lure Olympic teams and governing bodies to NC.

We found:
* funds were awarded w/o public discussion or economic development targets
* they paid themselves, politically-connected consultants, and board members