House GOP chairman calls for FEMA to be held accountable for Hurricane Helene aftermath, where more than 200 lives were lost due to flooding

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, chairman of the House Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, has asked FEMA to provide information on their preparations for Hurricane Helene, which caused catastrophic flooding and more than 200 deaths. D’Esposito specifically wants details on FEMA’s forecasting models, resource pre-positioning, and coordination with partners. On the other hand, homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall stated that FEMA’s efforts in pre-positioning and surging capacity after landfall saved lives, with western North Carolina being the hardest hit area. Former President Donald Trump has criticized FEMA’s response to Helene, while Sen. Thom Tillis praised the agency’s efforts, acknowledging room for improvement. Rep. Chuck Edwards initially criticized FEMA’s response, but later praised the immediate addressing of his complaints, which resulted in the delivery of essential supplies to affected counties. FEMA has provided over $110 million in federal assistance, deployed over 6,400 personnel, and distributed millions of meals, water, generators, and tarps to support recovery efforts in the region. The agency is working with Congress on Hurricane Helene efforts and continues to provide aid to survivors in the affected areas.

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