The Trump administration's FEMA has denied North Carolina's request for more time to reimburse hurricane victims, sparking frustration among state leaders still grappling with storm recovery six months later.
In the aftermath of a destructive hurricane that hit western North Carolina in late 2023, residents and officials have been working to rebuild homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
Recognizing ongoing challenges, the state's Governor Josh Stein formally asked FEMA to extend the deadline for residents to apply for disaster recovery funds, according to the Daily Beast. The request, supported by a bipartisan majority of the state's congressional delegation, aimed to give storm victims more time to seek federal help amid long recovery delays.
On Friday, April 11, FEMA officially rejected the extension request, stating the 180-day filing extension was "not warranted." Governor Stein publicly criticized the decision, calling it a failure of federal responsibility and urging President Trump to intervene.
Republican Representative Chuck Edwards—whose district suffered some of the worst hurricane damage—acknowledged the request was "unprecedented," but expressed disappointment and said he is exploring other ways to assist his constituents.
The denial comes against a backdrop of political tension, with President Trump previously casting doubt on FEMA's role and falsely accusing the Biden administration of misusing disaster funds.
With FEMA's refusal, thousands of North Carolina residents now face a hard deadline to secure financial help or risk missing out entirely.
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