3K families to be kicked out of FEMA hotels in Carolinas amid snow storm
FEMA program ends Saturday for Helene survivors
Hotel vouchers provided to those displaced by Hurricane Helene were set to expire for 3,500 families this weekend – just as a winter storm was set to hit the Carolinas.
In December, FEMA extended the voucher program which it calls “Transitional Sheltering Assistance” program until Saturday, Jan. 11. FEMA said then that Helene survivors would be able to stay at the hotels Friday night, and would have to check out the next Saturday.
The FEMA program allows survivors to stay in hotels and motels for free while they make repairs to their homes and/or search for permanent housing.
Both North Carolina and South Carolina were granted extensions for the hotel program until Jan. 11 extensions. However, FEMA told WBTV that there are no plans to extend the program again.
A winter storm was set to hit the region on Friday, Jan. 10. Snow was more likely in western North Carolina due to cold temps, while sleet and freezing rain were possible more south and east.
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis responded to the news that FEMA decided not to extend the program for thousands of families, despite the winter forecast.
“Thousands of North Carolina families, already devastated by the destruction of Hurricane Helene, are now being left in a state of uncertainty when it comes to securing housing. FEMA’s failure to act swiftly and decisively is not only unacceptable, but it is also putting vulnerable families at even greater risk. Despite the urgent and pressing need for assistance, FEMA has made little to no progress in providing direct housing solutions for those most affected by Hurricane Helene. I remain committed to holding FEMA accountable for its inaction, ensuring that every available federal resource is immediately deployed to Western North Carolina and that red tape and bureaucratic barriers preventing families from accessing housing are eliminated. We cannot allow the suffering of these families to be prolonged any longer.”
https://www.wbtv.com/2025/01/10/3k-families-be-kicked-out-fema-hotels-carolinas-amid-snow-storm/