ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — FEMA aid approved for Asheville-area residents has steadily increased over the past month, rising from $422.3 million for more than 158,600 households as of April 7 to $445.8 million for 159,726 households by May 13.

Nearly eight months after Tropical Storm Helene brought widespread terror and devastation to Western North Carolina, causing an estimated more than $53 billion in damage and recovery needs statewide, many residents are still waiting for help.

Asheville officials announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development had approved the city’s revised action plan to spend about $225 million in Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery funds.

The hits

But politics could hamper some of the progress in Western North Carolina.

On May 8, acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton was replaced by David Richardson, a Department of Homeland Security official.

President Donald Trump, a frequent critic of FEMA’s performance, particularly in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene, has said states, not the federal government, should lead recovery efforts after hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters.

Gov. Josh Stein on Thursday shared his recommendations for reforming the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a letter to the president’s FEMA Review Council. His input came in response to a Department of Homeland Security request for public feedback.

“There is no doubt that FEMA could be better and faster. But let us improve it, not abolish it,” Stein said in the letter. “North Carolina remains committed to working in good faith with the federal government and this Council on ways to improve federal disaster support, and we encourage the Council to keep the needs of our people at the forefront.”

Click here to read Stein’s full letter.

In April, AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps informed volunteers the 30-year-old community service program would be eliminated as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to cut government spending.

The program had been involved in several Hurricane Helene recovery projects, including work with Habitat for Humanity in North Carolina.

The progress

But numbers from FEMA show more than 1,100 people had been helped between April 7 and May 13.

In its May 13 report, FEMA said to date some $445.8 million had been approved for 159,726 households, including money for rent, basic home repairs and other disaster-caused needs.

Other help included:

  • $481 million in Public Assistance funding obligated to the state to support community recovery.
  • $195.6 million disbursed by the U.S. Small Business Administration in low-interest disaster loans.
  • 197 households are currently living in FEMA temporary housing units.
  • 5,492 households have received rental assistance.
  • 7,700 families have received $22.1 million for repair or replacement of private-access roads and bridges.
  • 7.3 million cubic yards of debris has been cleared from public rights of ways, 5.5 million by state contractors and 1.8 million by federal contractors.
  • The waterway debris mission has removed almost 4.2 million cubic yards of debris: approximately 3.8 million by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and 330,832 cubic yards by state contractors.
  • $189.9 million paid in claims by the National Flood Insurance Program.

If you have applied for FEMA help, don’t give up. FEMA may need more information to finish processing your application. If there are changes to your phone number, current address, banking or insurance information, please let FEMA know as soon as possible. Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or click here to update your file.