Under the Dome: Legislature passes $273 million in Helene relief, FEMA takes over migrant housing

Each week, join Dawn Vaughan for The News & Observer and NC Insider’s Under the Dome podcast, an in-depth analysis of topics in state government and politics for North Carolina.

Good morning and welcome to the Under the Dome newsletter. I’m Emily Vespa.

State lawmakers unanimously passed a $273 million Helene relief bill Wednesday, which leaders say is just the first step in what will be a long recovery. There will be another legislative session Oct. 24 to pass another round of relief. Read more from Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan and Kyle Ingram on how the money will be spent.

FROM MIGRANT HOUSING TO FEMA AID

Sen. Thom Tillis and Rep. Richard Hudson led the nine Republican members of the North Carolina congressional delegation in asking the federal Department of Health and Human Services to sign over a care facility in Greensboro – meant to house migrant children in the country without legal authorization – to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help people displaced by Hurricane Helene.

On Wednesday, FEMA confirmed that that transfer will take place.

In a written statement, a FEMA spokesperson said transferring the Greensboro facility to FEMA is part of a “comprehensive, whole-of-government approach” to help those affected by the storm.

In the letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, the lawmakers noted that the Greensboro facility has hundreds of beds and facilities for medical care, meals and education. While it became ready for use this spring, migrant children were never placed there.

The lawmakers suggested using the facility for the thousands of people displaced by the storm, or as a staging area for aid workers.

“We believe that this ICF (influx care facility) could be repurposed to support the state’s rescue and recovery efforts,” the letter stated.

The letter was signed by Sen. Ted Budd and Reps. Chuck Edwards, Virginia Foxx, Patrick McHenry, Greg Murphy, David Rouzer and Dan Bishop.

“This already controversial migrant facility has gone unused for years, which is why Rep. Hudson and I have been pushing the Biden Administration to use it instead for Helene recovery efforts,” Tillis said Wednesday in a written statement to McClatchy. “I’m glad they’ve listened and this facility can now be put to better use by helping North Carolinians in their moment of need.”

— Danielle Battaglia

FEMA FUNDING FACT-CHECK

After the Homeland Security secretary last week warned that FEMA can meet immediate needs but is short of funding to make it through hurricane season, some are wrongly blaming agency spending on migrant services for draining disaster relief funds.

Contrary to claims made by former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, FEMA did not divert disaster relief funds to house people who are living in the country without legal authorization.

Some Trump supporters amplifying this claim are alluding to a migrant services program funded by U.S. Customs and Border Protection money at Congress’ direction. FEMA distributed about $650 million last fiscal year under the program to relieve overcrowding in temporary shelters.

Others, like right-wing X user Libs of TikTok, are referring to a FEMA program that helps provide food and shelter to those in need. Congress previously appropriated funds under the program to a now-defunct arm that provided humanitarian relief for migrants, which was replaced by the CBP-funded program.

FEMA’s disaster fund, which supports federal disaster relief, is a separate spigot.

The disaster relief fund is being used to provide a one-time payment of $750 to households impacted by Helene to help survivors cover immediate costs like food, water and hygiene items while they apply for more assistance. It’s a new grant that the agency launched in March.

The $750 isn’t the only disaster relief FEMA will provide, which some falsely claimed. Disaster-affected people can receive FEMA assistance to cover a variety of expenses — including medical or dental care, funerals and immediate housing — up to a cap of $42,500.

FEMA has approved nearly $60 million in housing and other assistance for over 51,000 North Carolinans thus far, according to its website.

OFFICIALS TRY HUMOR, REDDIT TO CURB MISINFORMATION

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards is the latest lawmaker to push back against what he called “outrageous rumors that have been circulated online” about Helene.

Edwards in a Tuesday statement responded to a litany of false claims about the storm and urged people to fact-check what they see online with a credible source.

The congressman on Monday poked fun at the debunked claim that FEMA is blocking access to Starlink satellites, which are being used to provide internet to Western North Carolina amid infrastructure outages. In a photo shared on X, he appeared to wrestle a Starlink box from a grinning FEMA worker.

“Not sure if you can tell, but the Starlinks have made it to WNC safe and sound. Couldn’t confiscate one if I tried…and I tried,” Edwards wrote in part.

The White House launched a new strategy to share Helene recovery updates and combat misinformation: Reddit. Though its account was created in 2021, it’s now active. It posted Wednesday on the r/NorthCarolina subreddit with information on FEMA’s work and how to connect with disaster relief.

Our Chantal Allam and Josh Shaffer alongside the Charlotte Observer’s Joe Marusak investigated and fact-checked Helene misinformation. We’ll keep updating that list. If you see a Helene or #ncpol rumor you’d like us to check out, email realitycheck@newsobserver.com.

WHAT ELSE WE’RE WORKING ON

  • The North Carolina treasurer candidates debated Tuesday night in Greensboro, where Republican Brad Briner and Democrat Wesley Harris each laid out their vision on how to remedy a forecasted strain on the State Health Plan and manage the state’s pension plan and investments. Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi has the details.

  • Democrats are vying for 14 key seats in the state legislature this election to disrupt the current Republican supermajority. The Charlotte Observer’s Rebecca Noel unpacks the public education issues Democrats say are at stake.

CAMPAIGN WATCH

  • Vice President Kamala Harris will campaign in Greenville on Sunday, reports Danielle Battaglia. The visit will be her 19th trip to the state this election cycle.

VOTER GUIDE

In the latest candidate questionnaires from our 2024 NC Voter Guide, see what candidates for U.S. House District 4 have to say about the issues, and learn more about their biographies.

Two candidates answered our questions:

Republican Eric Blankenburg

Democrat Valerie Foushee.

Today’s newsletter was by Emily Vespa with contributions from Danielle Battaglia. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol.

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