The last time I checked on the status of the Hurricane Helene recovery in North Carolina, a spokesperson for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) apologized for the agency failing to deliver dozens of travel trailers and manufactured homes.
The “apology” came in response to Charlotte station WBTV grilling the representative about the lack of trailers being delivered to impacted families,
Now, two private organizations have stepped in to build and deliver over 100 tiny homes for victims of the historic storm.
The road to recovery has been long and difficult, with many families still struggling to rebuild their lives. The economic damage has been devastating, with losses totaling nearly $60 billion. This situation had been most keenly felt in western North Carolina, where vital industries like tourism and agriculture suffered significantly.To address these challenges, NASCAR and Lowe’s have launched a housing initiative, delivering 100 small homes to help affected families. The final batch of these homes, built in Charlotte, was sent out in time for Christmas. This project is part of a broader $12 million recovery effort rolled out to provide temporary housing solutions. Lowe’s contributed significantly by supplying the necessary materials, while skilled local craftsmen took on the task of constructing and delivering the homes.Recovery from Hurricane Helene has necessitated a comprehensive approach, with strong community involvement now evident. The project has engaged skilled workers who were eager to contribute to such a meaningful cause, but faced logistical challenges. According to Kelly of Kelly McArdle Construction, “everyone else in Charlotte wanted to work, but couldn’t go out there and take a day.”
Lowe’s craftsmen used the firm’s materials and skills to construct the homes, and NASCAR donated their haulers for the efforts.
Lowe’s worked to get the homes built, and then NASCAR stepped up by using their haulers to take them the rest of the way to families in need. And these little homes are nothing to sneeze at – and are certainly just what families in North Carolina needed.Each tiny home measures eight feet wide by sixteen feet long. They are securely set upon on a trailer, and each home can sleep three to four people (perfect for a small family). The houses features a kitchen, a bathroom, two full size beds (in a bunk style) and are furnished by the Lowe’s design team. They can also easily be connected to electricity, and have a heating and air unit.
Contrast that response to FEMA’s:
Our questions came after a FEMA spokesperson told WBTV the week of Thanksgiving that the agency would deliver a total of 103 temporary travel trailers and manufactured homes to families in North Carolina by the end of that week. At the time, FEMA had delivered 27 homes.By Wednesday, Dec. 4, FEMA had still only delivered 46 homes — well short of the number of promised temporary homes.WBTV learned that more than 500 families have been approved for a FEMA travel trailer or manufactured home in the wake of Helene. The agency’s slow deployment of the homes means hundreds of families are weathering the snow and freezing temperatures currently hitting the North Carolina mountains.Despite that, a FEMA spokesperson initially struck an upbeat tune in an interview with WBTV on Nov. 26. The spokesperson then doubled down on a promise to deliver homes to the more than 500 families who have requested one.“There could be 500 of these eventually given out?” a WBTV reporter asked.“Here’s the beautiful part about it, the answer is ‘yes,’ and we’ve done even more. So we can handle it,” said FEMA Media Relations Specialist La-Tanga Hopes.
The timing of the tiny home deliveries is perfect. Weather forecasters are tracking the potential for several inches of rain in the same Helene-hit areas of North Carolina over the weekend.
A new low pressure center will develop Saturday and push through the Great Lakes, with its trailing cold front bringing a round of steady rains to western North Carolina and the Appalachians.A stronger system that is bringing the daunting threat of tornadoes to the South on Saturday will sweep into the Ohio Valley and the Appalachians on Sunday with heavier rains and a lingering severe weather threat.Some locations will potentially experience their highest two-day rainfall totals since Hurricane Helene. By the time the rain subsides, a widespread 2-3 inches of rain is expected across western North Carolina, with localized areas receiving 3-5 inches where precipitation is enhanced by the terrain.
Hopefully, 2025 will bring the good people of North Carolina a drier year and full recovery from the hurricane.
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