ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — North Carolina’s request for FEMA to extend full reimbursement for damages caused by Tropical Storm Helene has been denied.

The announcement made Friday sparked outrage from Asheville area residents, who remember the president’s visit to the area when he was on the campaign trail.

At the time, Trump said if reelected he would “slash through every bureaucratic barrier” to ensure WNC residents get back on their feet.”

“I will personally recruit businesses from all over the world to help restore the prosperity to the region, he said.

As news of FEMA’s rejection spread, people took to social media to sound off.

“Six months later and it still looks like a bomb went off… and yet we want to dismantle FEMA. Doesn’t make sense,” one person said on Facebook.

“So much need. And North Carolina a Republican state. What does that say?” another person asked.

“Western NC needs help and Trump promised they would get everything they needed during his campaign,” another person wrote on Facebook.

“I thought Trump was all about helping NC?? Just for show lol,” commented another.

“Where is Chuck Edwards? Where is Thom Tillis?” another asked.

Congressman Chuck Edwards issued the following statement:

“A 100% cost share extension for 180 days is unprecedented. Instead, I’m focusing on other ways I can make a tangible difference in helping the citizens of Western North Carolina recover more quickly. This includes continuing to assist survivors with FEMA casework and working with the administration to find additional avenues to alleviate the financial stress our communities and the state of North Carolina are facing.”

Efforts to reach U.S. Sen. Tillis and U.S. Sen. Ted Budd for comment have been unsuccessful.

Gov. Josh Stein also expressed his disappointment in the decision.

“Today (Friday), I learned that FEMA refused our request to extend its 100% reimbursement period for another 180 days. I got this news while I was in Newland with families who lost their homes in the storm. The need in western North Carolina remains immense — people need debris removed, homes rebuilt, and roads restored. I am extremely disappointed and urge the President to reconsider FEMA’s bad decision, even for 90 days. Six months later, the people of western North Carolina are working hard to get back on their feet; they need FEMA to help them get the job done,” Stein said in a statement.

READ THE FEMA LETTER BELOW: 

However, the letter from FEMA said federal assistance would continue at the current rate of 90 percent “for the lifetime of the disaster.”

Earlier this month, the Appalachia Recovery Coalition launched a Helene | We Are Not OK petition, urging people to share their stories and take action.

Buncombe County officials said FEMA’s decision wouldn’t impact the county’s response.

“Counties have always been held harmless financially, and it’s not uncommon to change funding ratios as the response to the disaster progresses,” county officials said in a statement. “The Army Corps is still here, as is FEMA.”

A new Helene Resource Center opened Monday, April 14, at 94 Coxe Ave. in Asheville, assisting with FEMA applications, Disaster Case Management, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, private roads and bridges support, and more. The center will operate Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free parking is available across the street. This new center will serve as a one-stop shop as FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers begin to transition out of the community.

Area residents who need to apply for private property debris removal need to hurry — the deadline to apply for free private property debris removal is this Tuesday, April 15.

Residential and commercial business owners in Buncombe County, the city of Asheville and the town of Black Mountain impacted by Tropical Storm Helene may apply to have qualified disaster debris removed from their property for FREE through the Private and Commercial Property Debris Removal (PPDR) Program. The program also covers the demolition of eligible unsafe structures on private and commercial business properties.

Click here for the online application. Please have these documents readily available when you apply:

  • A copy of your insurance policy and proof/statement of loss from the company (if insured)
  • A color copy of your driver’s license or valid U.S. government-issued ID (such as a passport)
  • Proof of ownership such as a warranty deed, tax assessment, etc. for private property, OR
  • Your business’s Articles of Organization listing you the registered agent if for a commercial property
  • A simple sketch of the private or commercial business property identifying the locations of debris (hand-drawn is fine).

For more information on the PPDR and other debris questions, call the One Buncombe hotline, 828-250-6100, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and select option 2.