January 22, 2026/Media, Press

NEW: Reporting Questions What “Recovery Czar” Whatley Has Done For WNC As Families Receive “Abrupt Eviction Notices” From FEMA

New reporting from WSOC is highlighting yet another failure of Hurricane Helene “recovery czar” Michael Whatley, as “families in western North Carolina say they… have received abrupt eviction notices” from FEMA. This leaves families in “unstable housing situations” as western North Carolina is set to experience “significant winter weather” this weekend.

This latest failure comes as a political expert questions “what Whatley has done for WNC” and “whether the person in charge of Helene recovery is the person who deserves their vote come November.” 

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Taylor Thompson | January 20, 2026

 

  • There’s also the question of what Whatley has done for WNC after Trump deemed him to be in charge of Helene recovery.

 

  • “We’ve had all these different offices and titles, but at the end of the day buck was supposed to stop there and I think a lot of voters are going to be trying to sort out exactly whether the person in charge of Helene recovery is the person who deserves their vote come November,” [Dr. Chris] Cooper said.

 

WSOC: Families in western NC face abrupt eviction from FEMA homes 

Dave Faherty | January 19, 2026

  • Families in western North Carolina say they are being forced to vacate homes provided by FEMA after storm Helene struck in 2024. Many residents have received abrupt eviction notices, including one woman who must leave her temporary housing by 1 p.m. Tuesday.

 

  • “I’ve got until one o’clock tomorrow to be out and if I’m not out by one o’clock tomorrow, they’re going to charge me $3,000 a month to live here, and I can’t afford $3,000 a month,” she said. “I don’t have no income.”

 

  • FEMA officials said the temporary housing assistance program provides rent-free housing to storm survivors for up to 18 months after a storm. Part of the program allows FEMA to sell the mobile homes and campers at steep discounts and we could see on Monday where several of the homes have already been moved out.

 

  • But residents said they are required to pay to have them relocated which can be cost between $8,000 and $10,000. Hart wishes FEMA would be more understanding for those still looking for a place to live.

 

  • “Some of us don’t have any income,” Hart said. Some of us don’t have any family, and we don’t have any transportation, and it’s hard to look for places.”

 

  • FEMA’s program has reportedly assisted more than 240 families since the storm. Some residents noted that, while many have been able to purchase homes at steep discounts, others are still in unstable housing situations.

 

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