Former President Donald Trump returned to North Carolina on Monday to assure the hurricane-ravaged communities that they have not been forgotten and that he will be laser-focused on supporting their rebuilding efforts if elected president.
Mr. Trump said the response from the Biden-Harris administration — in particular the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — has been lacking and that private citizens and outside organizations have filled the void.
“I think it is a disgrace what happened with FEMA, what’s happened with their rescue effort,” he said. “Their rescue effort was almost nonexistent.”
“I am with you, and the American people are with you all the way. We are going to continue to be with you,” he said at a press conference in Asheville.
The Democratic campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris said Mr. Trump has been spreading lies that are distracting from the recovery effort and hurting families that need help.
They also circulated a headline from the Charlotte Observer editorial board: “Shame on Donald Trump for worsening NC’s Helene tragedy with political lies.”
Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, wiping out homes, roads and entire towns, and killing 95 people statewide. More than 100 other people died in other southeastern states from the storm and its related flooding.
The Biden-Harris administration responded by directing $1.8 billion in federal assistance to people and communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which slammed across the Florida Peninsula from west to east.
FEMA has deployed over 4,400 personnel to the affected areas from the two storms.
Mr. Trump has consistently criticized the White House’s response — even suggesting early on that the Biden-Harris administration was going “out of their way to not help people in Republican areas.”
Mr. Trump also has criticized Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper while heaping praise on the way Republican Govs. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Brian Kemp of Georgia have handled the storm fallout.
If elected, Mr. Trump promised to speed up federal support by cutting through bureaucratic red tape and leading “the rebuilding of every town and region.”
“On Jan. 20, you are going to have, I think, a new crew coming in to do it properly and help you in a proper manner,” he said at Monday’s press conference.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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