For the second time, Michael Whatley’s FEMA Review Council had to be extended at the last second because Whatley, the co-chair of the Final Report Subcommittee, has failed as “recovery czar” and delayed the final report.

Smoky Mountain News: “The review council got off to a late start, blew through deadlines and saw its one-year charter come dangerously close to expiring…”

Whatley is more than four months late in releasing the report, which has left state recovery officials “hamstrung” and “in a difficult spot.,” while Western North Carolina has only seen 12 percent of the needed federal support.  

“Recovery czar Michael Whatley has failed to deliver FEMA’s final report four months past the deadline and has completely failed to deliver federal relief for Western North Carolina,” said Mallory Payne, senior communications advisor for the North Carolina Democratic Party. “North Carolina families can’t afford a U.S. Senator who has repeatedly and consistently failed them.”

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