Gov. Stein Launches Misleading Attack Against FEMA Helene Recovery Efforts
Today, Governor Josh Stein attacked FEMA for not approving applications for the Hazard Mitigation Program. One problem is that the program is still accepting applications, and this is a long-term program that takes years in the best-case scenario.
Governor Stein is shouting from the rooftops like this is an unusual situation. This week, Buncombe County released a detailed explainer on its website outlining the process. Here are some key quotes about this project from Buncombe County:
“HMGP is not designed to cover immediate storm repairs after Helene. Instead, it helps fund projects that make homes stronger against future disasters. With the amount of local effort needed to develop strong applications for approval, the process can be lengthy.”
“Here is an outline of typical HMGP timeframes:”
“Several months: preparing applications (collecting documentation, cost estimates, and benefit-cost analysis before submission).”
“12-24 months: FEMA reviews and decides on applications; complex projects may take longer.”
“3-4 years: Communities have this window to complete approved mitigation projects once funding is awarded.”
“Buncombe County recommends submitting your application by October 15. This is earlier than the state’s final deadline of Oct. 31, giving us time to help you finalize all documentation.”
That’s right, the State of North Carolina set the application deadline of October 31st for this program, but Stein is acting like there is a crisis because Cooper has not acted before his administration’s deadline.
Bottom Line: Buncombe County says the expected time frame for this project is two to three years, but Stein is attacking the Trump Administration anyway. That’s what a partisan hack does.
Here are three possible reasons for Stein to inflame disaster recovery instead of working to help the community heal:
Ignorance: Stein may well be misinformed about this program and is simply parroting misinformed talking points. Stein chose to appoint a long-term Wake County Commissioner, Matt Calabria, as the director for the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC). Calabria served a county commissioner for decades in the eastern part of North Carolina but has no significant experience working in state or federal government managing major disaster recovery. It is possible that Stein’s administration is confused about this program.
Muddying The Waters for the Cooper for Senate Campaign. Career politician, then-Governor Roy Cooper, badly mismanaged the response to Hurricanes Matthew, Florence, and Helene. The Cooper campaign is in a full-out effort to cover up Cooper’s failure on Helene by trying to shift blame to anybody else, besides President Biden and Governor Cooper, who oversaw the disastrous response. Stein’s ham-handed attack on FEMA may be an attempt to help the Cooper for Senate campaign by shouting confusing information. Notably, Stein was completely silent on Cooper’s bungled response to Hurricanes Matthew, Florence, and Helene.
Secret Favoritism for Buncombe County? Buncombe County has been working overtime to get their applications for this program early, ahead of the October 31st deadline. If FEMA caved to Stein’s lobbying efforts, there’s a chance that Buncombe County projects were approved earlier than they would if FEMA followed the normal procedure. There’s a chance that early approval of the projects in Buncombe County would mean more limited resources for other Western North Carolina Counties that met the deadline. Politically, Buncombe County is a Democrat stronghold while the rest of Western North Carolina votes heavily Republican. A cynic could guess that Stein’s lobbying efforts are designed to create additional benefit for his supporters, instead of focusing of distributing resources based on needs.
