Western NC officials set to visit White House, Capitol Hill to push for federal aid post-Helene

The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the town with debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina, after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 28, 2024, in Lake Lure. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/)

A group of western North Carolina officials will travel to Washington next week to meet with White House staff and the state's congressional delegation, where they will request further federal aid to help the region recover from Hurricane Helene.

Esther Manheimer, the mayor of Asheville, told NC Newsline in an interview Friday that she and other local government leaders, as well as Gov. Roy Cooper, would visit the nation's capital on Wednesday and Thursday, November 20 and 21.

They're expected to urge federal officials to fund key relief programs, release any available money and ease the financial burden on the state as the recovery in western North Carolina continues.

"We need for the administration to release any discretionary funds that they have at their disposal," Manheimer said. "And we need to reduce the match required by FEMA for recovery costs. We need them to move the cost share from 75/25 to 90/10."

The White House has pledged 100% reimbursement on disaster relief assistance for the first six months following the hurricane. Local and state officials are expecting the rebuild process in the mountains to span years.

Joining Manheimer and Cooper in Washington will be county officials from Buncombe and Madison counties, and the mayors of Canton, Lake Lure and Chimney Rock.

"We're trying to make sure that this isn't just about recovery in Asheville," Manheimer said. "This is about recovery for all of western North Carolina."

They are set to visit with White House officials on Wednesday. On Thursday, they will meet with North Carolina members on Capitol Hill, including U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd.

A spokesperson for Cooper did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lawmakers from North Carolina and other Helene-impacted states have called on congressional leaders to immediately approve more aid. That includes providing a new injection of funding for a key relief program under the Small Business Administration, which has run out of money.

Both U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross and Sen. Thom Tillis delivered speeches on the floor of their respective chambers this week calling for the approval of more aid.

Next week on Capitol Hill will also feature a congressional hearing focused on FEMA . Republican lawmakers have scrutinized the agency's response to Helene and other disasters.

Among those called to testify is FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who was on the ground in western North Carolina shortly after Helene's landfall.

North Carolina's legislature will convene next week, at which time it is widely expected to consider further state aid.

Manheimer, who is also a member of Gov.-elect Josh Stein's transition team , said the top priority for the region was reimbursing relief costs, as well as allowing the state to "unleash" the Department of Transportation to tackle road and bridge repairs.

And she acknowledged that while the legislature had approved money for loan programs for small businesses, "what everyone really wants are grants."