Western North Carolina is facing challenges after President-elect Donald Trump rejected a federal spending plan that included over $100 billion in disaster aid.
The plan would have helped North Carolina significantly, with the state set to receive $9.2 billion, second only to Florida. This money was meant to help rebuild roads and homes, provide support for farmers who lost crops, and fund disaster relief programs like the Small Business Administration, clean drinking water, emergency child care, and repairs on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Hurricane Helene, which struck the U.S. after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, caused massive flooding and winds in North Carolina, leading to nearly $60 billion in damage.
On Thursday, Republicans released a new version of the bill to keep the government running and restore disaster aid with Trump’s support. However, the bill was rejected by the House of Representatives. As a result, many people, including farmers, fire survivors, and business owners, are now uncertain about their future.
Jessie Dean, the CEO of Asheville Tea Co., said she is closely following the situation. Her business was destroyed by the Helene floods in September, with her building and all of her inventory washed away. She hasn’t received any help from the Small Business Administration despite applying for a loan. Dean shared that many small business owners are struggling with whether they can continue their businesses without federal help.
Pecan farmer Scott Hudson, who lost thousands of trees and up to 70% of his crop in Georgia due to the storm, expressed concern about the future. He said that without federal aid, farmers like him may not survive.
The earlier version of the bill included low-interest loans for businesses, homeowners, and nonprofits to help with rebuilding, as well as funds to repair roads and highways and support home rebuilding efforts through federal grants.