The people of Western North Carolina had a strong Christmas and will definitely have a happier New Year thanks to a number of organizations, from Samaritan’s Purse to United Cajun Navy to individuals like Shawn Hendrix, Chris Hall and many others. They worked (and are still working) to provide food, shelter and resources to the families affected by the Hurricane Helene disaster in September, and they also provided Christmas for everyone in the area have experienced the destruction of their homes and their lives.
But the Amish of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, have risen to the top like cream. This isn’t even their region of the country, but a group of them with Cabins for Christ came by in October, set up campsites for themselves away from the rubble so they couldn’t interfere with the cleanup and assessment, and got to work Build a home for the people who had lost their homes.
🚨#BREAKING: Boone NC officials have confirmed that 62 members of the Pennsylvania Amish community completed the construction of 12 minuscule homes in less than 48 hours.
The total cost of the project for #WNC was over $300,000, donated entirely by the Amish community. pic.twitter.com/ysbZIXP06d
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) December 31, 2024
But to no one’s surprise, Western North Carolina’s resurgence will have little to do with the government agency tasked with being on the ground amid the disaster: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She claim“Our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. Our core values and goals help us achieve this.” Tragically, despite pouring billions into their coffers, they have not accomplished much for the citizens of Western North Carolina whose homes were destroyed by Helene. And winter is already here and more storms are coming.
🚨#BREAKING: FEMA has officially confirmed that of the 26 families who were told they would receive short-lived homes before Christmas…
…only 3 families received one
You read that correctly. THREE. pic.twitter.com/s0K7d5qy1b
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) December 31, 2024
Twelve houses in 48 hours compared to three houses in three months. Really terrible optics for FEMA. Maybe all the disaster money should be given to the Amish communities. In October, after the citizens of Western North Carolina, particularly in the Chimney Rock and Lake Lure area, began calling out FEMA and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper for their misconduct and inertia in responding to this disaster To denounce it, FEMA administrators Deanne Criswell and Cooper attempted to deny and evade responsibility.
A North Carolina resident is calling out Gov. Roy Cooper for failing to address the state’s urgent needs.
Hurricane Helene destroyed 126,000 homes and left 577,000 people homeless and displaced, yet $2.2 billion in FEMA funding remains unaccounted for.
The… pic.twitter.com/LXmAmj5QQ1– Carla (@thecoffeesfresh) December 1, 2024
A North Carolina resident is calling out Gov. Roy Cooper for failing to address the state’s urgent needs.
Hurricane Helene destroyed 126,000 homes and left 577,000 people homeless and displaced, yet $2.2 billion in FEMA funding remains unaccounted for.
This mismanagement is unacceptable and the people of North Carolina deserve immediate action and accountability to rebuild their lives.
Criswell and Cooper’s gang told people not to trust their lying eyes; FEMA was there doing a good job helping people, and anyone who said otherwise was just spreading misinformation.
🇺🇸 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has named North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper & @FEMA_Deanne is this miniature update clip.
The comments in the answers tell the story.
FEMA is either completely incompetent or actively working against the American people. pic.twitter.com/fOFkhmek5a– Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) October 5, 2024
Two months after this video was made, a FEMA spokesperson had to do this eat their crow.
A spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) apologized Wednesday in response to a question from WBTV about why the agency failed to deliver dozens of mobile homes and manufactured homes to North Carolinians displaced by Hurricane Helene.
Our questions came after a FEMA spokesperson told WBTV during Thanksgiving week that the agency would deliver a total of 103 short-lived trailers and manufactured homes to families in North Carolina by the end of this week. At this point, FEMA had delivered 27 homes.
As of Wednesday, December 4, FEMA had still only delivered 46 homes – far fewer than the short-lived homes promised.
WBTV learned that more than 500 families have received approval for a FEMA trailer or manufactured home after Helene. The agency’s snail-paced delivery of homes means hundreds of families are weathering the snow and freezing temperatures currently in the North Carolina mountains.
Of course, Criswell and Cooper are nowhere to be found. Criswell is looking for another job, and Cooper is rumored to be considering a Senate run against incumbent Republican Thom Tillis. Evil never dies; it simply finds another political office to fill.
This FEMA my fault This came 16 days before the December 20 passage of the continuing resolution that prevented a government shutdown. In this still pork-laden bill, Congress dropped another $29 billion for FEMA to be used for disaster relief.
In the meantime, the Amish continue to do the work that FEMA can’t seem to do: providing high-quality housing to vulnerable people, and doing so without the hassle of bureaucracy.
I’ll tell you what: Every time I hear something modern about the Amish, my respect and admiration for them grows.
This was taken on Route 421 leaving Boone.
The Amish are building minuscule houses for Hurricane Helene victims like worker bees, despite the government and… pic.twitter.com/8hRYiyb4NW
– Appalachian Freedom (@Liberty_Xtreme) December 30, 2024
I’ll tell you what: Every time I hear something modern about the Amish, my respect and admiration for them grows.
This was taken on Route 421 leaving Boone.
The Amish are building minuscule houses for Hurricane Helene victims like worker bees, even though the government and FEMA told them no!
This is the true spirit of America!
America and Americans are making a comeback, thanks to our fellow Americans like the Amish and all the organizations that stand by their fellow human beings. May you all experience the blessing of a happier and more stable 2025!
