A welcome signal from President Trump: Western NC recovery is a top priority | Opinion

Among President Donald Trump’s many stated priorities for his second term is an important one that’s close to home: helping western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene.

It was important enough to get a mention in his inauguration speech Monday and at his pre-inauguration rally the day prior. Trump will also visit western North Carolina later this week as part of his first trip since being sworn in to office.

“Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency, as recently shown by the wonderful people of North Carolina, who’ve been treated so badly, and other states that are still suffering from a hurricane that took place many months ago,” Trump said in his inaugural address.

At his pre-inauguration rally, Trump pointed out that he won North Carolina every time he was on the ballot and claimed that FEMA “almost didn’t know [North Carolina] existed.”

That remark is troubling — FEMA was quick to respond to the storm — but his nod to the state and its people should be a welcome sign. Though it’s been several months since Helene caused catastrophic flooding and destruction to the western part of the state, there’s still a long road ahead to recovery. Many people who lost their homes remain displaced and in need of temporary housing and other assistance. Businesses that rely on travel and tourism are experiencing severe economic consequences, as the storm brought tourism to a halt during a typically busy time of year. Lots of infrastructure, including bridges and roadways, still needs to be rebuilt.

Western North Carolina won’t be able to do any of that on its own, and residents should be able to count on their government to provide needed disaster relief. So it’s encouraging to see Trump make a commitment to do just that, and the fact that he’s made it so soon after taking office suggests it’s a top priority. Let’s hope that commitment is more than opportune but empty words. Helene victims need relief more than recognition.

We hope, too, that Trump will avoid using Helene recovery efforts as an opportunity to bash the Biden administration or mislead people about supposed government failures. He has, after all, done that before. In the storm’s immediate aftermath, Trump spread falsehoods that created confusion and division, including that the Biden administration and then-Gov. Roy Cooper were “going out of their way to not help people in Republican areas” and that there wasn’t enough disaster relief funding because it had been spent on undocumented immigrants. It was irresponsible and harmful, and it made it harder for the government to do its job.

The federal government’s response to Helene has not been perfect. Communication from FEMA has been lacking in spots, and the agency has been criticized for being slow to provide enough temporary homes. Some Western North Carolina residents are confused and feel ignored, which is why this renewed commitment, along with the efforts undertaken by Gov. Josh Stein, are welcomed. But misinformation and conspiracies surrounding FEMA since Helene occurred have contributed to an alarming and destructive lack of trust. The Washington Post reported last month that an unusually low number of affected households have applied for FEMA assistance, in part because they simply don’t believe that the agency can or will help them.

In a press conference Tuesday, Stein confirmed reports that Trump would visit the state this week, saying it’s good news that Helene recovery seems to be top of mind for the Trump administration. We agree. We should appreciate that the people of western North Carolina have not been forgotten, especially as the nation’s attention has shifted to the wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes in California. It’s a good reminder that we can — and should — hold space for two tragedies at once. We’re glad the president has not forgotten ours.