Trump Amplifies Voices of North Carolina Storm Survivors During Heartfelt Visit

Trump Amplifies Voices of North Carolina Storm Survivors During Heartfelt Visit

President Donald Trump demonstrated his commitment to storm-impacted communities during his visit to North Carolina on Friday. The region continues to struggle with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which struck last fall, leaving families feeling neglected by the Biden-Harris administration.

“We’re going to North Carolina. It’s been a horrible thing the way that’s been allowed to fester, and we’re going to get it fixed up. It should have been done months ago, from the hurricane that took place almost four months ago,” Trump remarked to reporters on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One Friday morning.

“North Carolina has been treated very badly, so we’re stopping there,” he continued, marking his first visit to the state since taking office on Monday.

On the ground in the Tarheel State, Trump handed over his platform to residents, allowing them to share their frustrations regarding the ongoing lack of assistance from FEMA.

During these discussions, the president pledged to either overhaul or dismantle the federal emergency agency, citing systemic failures stemming from bureaucracy, resource mismanagement, and political partisanship. Reports surfaced prior to his visit that FEMA workers had avoided helping homes displaying Trump signs or flags in North Carolina and Florida.

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Fox News reported that more than 100 days after Hurricane Helene struck, many western North Carolina residents are still living in tents and campers.

Two survivors from the September storm shared how Trump’s visit and remarks provided hope amidst their losses.

“He seems like he genuinely cares, and…I’m glad that he’s here because it feels like we were forgotten or never taken care of under the other administration,” said Curtis Wright, a Fairview resident who met Trump during the visit.

Wright also recounted a message from the president: “He said, ‘We’re here, and we’re going to help you,’ and I believe him.”

Wright’s family suffered devastating losses, including his father’s home and small business, while Curtis lost his own home along with farming tools and tractors.

“We pretty much all lost everything, and it’s hard to build back when you don’t have tools,” Wright said.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in Asheville, North Carolina, around 10 a.m. on Friday, making stops in Fletcher and Swannanoa. During his visit, Trump addressed locals and politicians before traveling to California to meet with wildfire-affected communities.

Speaking in Swannanoa, Trump declared, “We’ve come to North Carolina with a simple message for all the people of this region who were hit so hard by Hurricane Helene, and that message is very simple: You are not forgotten any longer.”

Many displaced residents are relying on campers donated by local and national charities, such as Samaritan’s Purse and Cajun Navy, which have partnered with Emergency RV to provide temporary housing. FEMA has also contributed campers at designated locations.

Holly Cape from Emergency RV told Fox News Digital that the group has donated 87 RVs so far, with plans to increase that number to 104 by the end of next week.

“I promised that I’d come back to western North Carolina to help the people of the state, and today, here I am to deliver on that promise,” Trump said. “We have a lot of things in mind, and we’re getting the … Army Corps of Engineers all set. You need your riverbanks fixed. You need a lot of roads fixed. And we’re going to get it done in rapid time.”

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