NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — President Trump promised big changes to how the federal government responds to natural disasters while making a stop in Asheville on Friday.
While speaking with reporters gathered at Asheville’s airport, Trump accused FEMA – the agency tasked with disaster relief recovery – of failing western NC in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
”It’s a massive amount of damage, FEMA has really let us down, let the country down and I don’t know if that’s Biden’s fault or whose fault it is but we’re gonna take over,” said Trump.
During a meeting with state leaders and North Carolina’s congressional delegation, the president said he would sign an executive order that would either make major changes to FEMA or set up a system where federal dollars go directly to the state.
“I like, frankly, the concept when North Carolina gets hit the Governor takes care of it, when Florida gets hit, the Governor takes care of it, meaning the state takes care of it,” he added.
Congressman Chuck Edwards, who represented some of the hardest-hit areas, seemed to be on board with the idea.
“FEMA has to be either eliminated or overhauled, it’s clearly a broken, bureaucratic system that has not served the people in Western North Carolina to the level they deserve,” Edwards said.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, who was at the airport to greet Trump, acknowledged survivors are not happy with the federal response.
“Folks need help with housing, they need help with business support, infrastructure damage, water and sewer, roads, the roads damage are immense,” said Stein.
However, Stein did not give his assessment of FEMA.
“I understand people’s frustrations, nothing happens as quickly or as well as we want it to, folks are working really hard on the ground, we are grateful for the support we have gotten from the federal government, and we need more from the state, the people in Western North Carolina have stepped up in the most incredible way,” he said.
During his conversation with the president, Stein said he asked for $20 billion in additional federal relief and 100 percent reimbursement for cleanup efforts for the next six months.
After two stops in Asheville, Trump flew to California where he surveyed fire damage in and around Los Angeles.
