Families in North Carolina STILL living in tents after Hurricane Helene… now a deadly winter storm is coming
A winter storm is sweeping across the US, hitting North Carolina, where people are ‘still living in tents’ after the devastating hurricane season.
Twenty states, from Texas to Delaware, were on alert for snow and ice on Friday as the storm, named Cora, continued to move through the South.
But residents of North Carolina, where up to six inches of snow and temperatures as high as 50 degrees Fahrenheit are expected, are left without proper homes after Category 4 Hurricane Helene ripped through the region in September.
At least 70,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in the deadly storm that killed more than 100 people in the state.
Cora’s impact will extend statewide, but Western North Carolina will bear the brunt. Many of the displaced have moved into RVs, trailers, sheds, tents or other forms of makeshift housing, especially in the outer Asheville community of Swannanoa.
“We still live like this, and it’s not a fun way to live,” Swannanoa resident Dara Cody told local NBC station WXII 12 in December.
AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva told DailyMail.com that this is coming Sleet and freezing rain are likely to freeze roads, delaying the flow of raw materials and aid to the state to help Hurricane Helene victims.
In addition, people living in makeshift shelters and those affected by power outages may find it difficult to stay warm as temperatures drop to “dangerous” lows, he added.
Families in North Carolina have been living in RVs and tents since Hurricane Helen tore through the state in September. Locals are now facing a dangerously cold winter storm
Western North Carolina will bear the brunt of the storm’s impact, with communities still recovering after being hit hard by Helene
Ann DuPre Rogers, director of nonprofit Resources for Resilience, said NPR: ‘Apartment complexes have been declared uninhabitable. People live in tents.’
Even after the storm leaves North Carolina early next week, DaSilva said the cold will continue for days.
“This is not an overnight deal. This is several, several, several nights, and we’ve already had a lot of cold this month, so people’s bodies are probably worn out,” he added.
Temperatures in the state will remain well below average through at least the middle of next week, he added.
“We may wait another five to seven days of below-average temperatures before temperatures start to rise again in that area.”
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency on Thursday ahead of the storm, while officials in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas declared their states of emergency on Friday.
Arkansas is facing up to 12 inches of snow, while parts of Texas and Oklahoma have already received 12 inches of snow.
Stein said at a briefing on Friday: “Right now our biggest concern is road safety.
Many of the displaced have moved into campers, caravans, sheds, tents or other forms of makeshift housing
Some people are forced to live in their cars
Winter Storm Cora is already pounding the Southeast, and displaced survivors of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina will be especially vulnerable to its effects
‘Precipitation and freezing temperatures tomorrow afternoon and night will cause a mess on our roads on Saturday morning’
It started snowing in the western half of North Carolina on Friday. Communities at higher elevations, such as Asheville, could see three to six inches of accumulation with some locally higher amounts, DaSilva said.
“It could be a challenge to get the supplies there in the next two days because the roads are just going to be a mess,” he added.
The winter precipitation can cause power outages, which can create a dangerous situation as temperatures drop and people cannot heat their homes.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the state replaced many damaged or destroyed power lines and structures with temporary infrastructure to restore electricity service to hard-hit communities.
For example, a substation supplying power to the Asheville neighborhood of Biltmore Village was “decimated by debris” and is still being rebuilt.
Instead, North Carolina utility Duke Energy installed a temporary substation to provide power to the area’s nearly 7,000 customers, according to a recent report from the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management.
But these temporary structures may not be well suited to absorb the snow and freezing rain that winter storm Cora is expected to bring. “So it might not take that much to cause problems,” DaSilva warned.
“It’s going to be important that people check on their neighbors… And if the power goes out, try to help them as best you can, because this is a dangerous cold, and it’s not just one night of this cold – it’s several nights he said.
The outer Asheville community of Swannanoa was hit hard by Hurricane Helene, with many of its residents losing their homes. Swannanoa, NC, October 4, 2024
Thousands of families are living in FEMA-provided accommodations that they could lose this weekend if Cora strikes. Swannanoa, NC, October 6, 2024
As of January 6, more than 5,600 households were staying in hotel or motel rooms paid for by FEMA, local news station ABC 13 reported. Bat Cave, NC, October 8, 2024
In addition, thousands of displaced families currently staying in hotel and motel rooms provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been told they will lose their accommodations this weekend.
The temporary housing is provided through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, which covers the cost of short-term lodging at local hotels and motels for those who have been displaced.
On January 6, more than 5,600 households were staying in hotel or motel rooms paid for by FEMA, a local news station. ABC-13 reported.
But the agency has said that nearly 3,500 households have been deemed “no longer eligible” for the program, either because an inspection determined their homes were now habitable, they declined an inspection, or FEMA was unable to contact taking them in to update their homes. housing needs.
On January 3, FEMA began issuing notices to these households stating that their stay would be terminated on the 10th.
Protesters gathered in downtown Asheville on Wednesday to demand that FEMA extend the deadline, and on Thursday the agency agreed to a 24-hour extension ahead of Winter Storm Cora.
A man walks past a flooded area near the Swannanoa River. Asheville, NC, September 27, 2024
On January 3, FEMA began issuing notices to these households stating that their stay would be terminated on the 10th.
The agency’s announcement, posted on cold temperatures that will last well into next week.
“Extending motel accommodations for older residents in western North Carolina by just 24 hours is insufficient, especially given the impending snowstorm. This decision leaves them without a viable alternative for shelter during severe weather events,” an X user replied.
“You must all resign. 24 hours is a shame. We need compassionate and effective staff who know how to do their jobs,” wrote another.
FEMA did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment, nor did the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
While the true impact of Winter Storm Cora remains to be seen, it is clear that North Carolina residents who lost their homes to Hurricane Helene are in for a difficult weekend, with even more challenges ahead as this cold January continues.