Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, chairman of the House Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, has asked FEMA to detail its preparations for Hurricane Helene, which caused devastating flooding in several Southern states and claimed more than 200 lives. Despite criticism from former President Donald Trump, other North Carolina Republicans have praised FEMA’s response, with Sen. Thom Tillis defending the agency’s efforts. Rep. Chuck Edwards initially criticized the federal government’s response but later praised how his concerns were addressed promptly. FEMA has provided over $110 million in federal assistance and deployed more than 6,400 personnel to assist with recovery efforts. The agency has distributed millions of meals, water, generators, and tarps to support recovery in the affected areas. FEMA confirmed that advanced forecasting, resource pre-positioning, and coordination with federal, state, and local partners were part of their efforts to mitigate the impact of Hurricane Helene. Homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall highlighted FEMA’s focus on pre-positioning efforts in Florida and surging capacity where needed most after the storm. The agency received a letter from Rep. D’Esposito citing delays in water distribution in North Carolina. Ultimately, FEMA’s response efforts have been commended by some officials in the affected areas.
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