The eastern half of North Carolina saw a wide swath of devastation from hurricane Matthew in 2016, including flood damage from rivers that crested mid-week that caused additional flooding. Overflowing creeks and streams in rural areas also helped wash out roads and bridges. Immediately following the hurricane The American Red Cross opened 80 Red Cross and partner shelters to house 3,824 people. More shelters opened as people returned to their homes to assess the damage. Republican Donald Trump, who was on the campaign trail at the time, sent daughter-in-law Lara Trump along with campaign staff to deliver $29,000 worth of emergency supplies to the area.
Trump bragged on Twitter about how he would never let the American public down if elected. Trump showed up a few days later in person, primarily handing out hats and other campaign memorabilia and signing them, while promising help for hurricane victims if he became president.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) asked the Trump administration for disaster relief
After assessing the extent of the damage from Hurricane Matthew, North Carolina's Democratic governor put in a request for $929 million in federal aid to help with the remaining hurricane recovery costs. He had requested most of the funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant program. It was a shock when earlier this week the state was notified that the Trump administration would only authorize $6.1 million dollars in disaster relief, which was a ninety-nine percent decrease from what the governor and the NC congressional delegation had asked for.
The disaster aid was primarily for families still living in hotels due to a lack of rental properties, to help farmers who lost livestock and homes, and to provide health services for storm survivors.
The Trump 2018 budget would slash funds for U.S. disaster relief
Cooper has followed up by sending a letter asking Trump to reconsider his request while also asking the president and the U.S.
Congress to keep North Carolina’s needs in mind when preparing the 2018 federal budget, which would go into effect on October 1st of this year. Under the administration's budget that was recently leaked to the public, funding for long-term disaster relief is "not" a priority for Trump and Republicans. HUD, which takes over after the Federal Emergency Management Agency does its part to help with long-term rebuilding, would see $6.2 billion in budget cuts, a 13 percent decrease from current funding levels.
The HUD block grant program that Governor Cooper requested most of the money from would have its $3 billion budget eliminated entirely. North Carolina does not have the money to replace what the Trump Administration cut.
Trump's March executive order hurt state and local government disaster preparedness
President Trump -- who loves signing executive orders -- weakened the ability of state and local governments to prepare for future disasters by overturning a 2013 executive order by President Obama. Federal agencies were required to assist states in improving their ability to make changes that would help lessen damages from wildfires, storms, earthquakes and other disasters. It also established task forces of state, local and tribal leaders to work on determining needs if a disaster were to take place.
After Trump rescinded the Obama Administration's decision, Rachel Cleetus, a lead economist and climate policy manager, stated that the people who would be hurt the most are vulnerable and disadvantaged Americans.
