A North Carolina mayor revealed on Tuesday that his daughter was denied the $750 Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) emergency grant announced last week by the Biden-Harris administration after her house was “completely wiped out” by Hurricane Helene. The mayor claimed his daughter was only approved for $300, which “won’t even cover what’s in her refrigerator.”
During a Tuesday appearance on Fox News, Newland Mayor Derek Roberts said his daughter was denied the $750 Serious Needs Assistance FEMA funding after her home was damaged by the floods caused by Hurricane Helene.
Roberts told Fox News, “My daughter, whose house got completely wiped out, she has no flood insurance, meets with a FEMA person, applies for everything… doesn’t get the $750 that Kamala says that she’s supposed to get.”
The Newland mayor explained that FEMA only approved his daughter for $300 for “personal items.” “What is that gonna do?” Roberts asked. “That’s literally what she got. Her entire first floor is wiped out, we hauled everything off, it’s gone.”
“They didn’t give her $750; denied the $750,” Roberts added. “They gave her $300. That won’t even cover what’s in her refrigerator.”
Last week, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that the administration would be offering $750 in FEMA assistance to Americans impacted by Hurricane Helene. At the time, Harris said, “The federal relief and assistance that we have been providing has included FEMA providing $750 for folks who need immediate needs being met, such as food, baby formula, and the like.”
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According to FEMA’s website, the $750 Serious Needs Assistance grant is “an upfront, flexible payment to help cover essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies.” FEMA’s website notes, “There are other forms of assistance that you may qualify for to receive and Serious Needs Assistance is an initial payment you may receive while FEMA assesses your eligibility for additional funds.”
The New York Post reported that as of Tuesday, FEMA had distributed more than $210 million to communities affected by Hurricane Helene. However, many North Carolina residents have criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s slow response to hurricane recovery efforts, especially in light of the severity of the flooding and the number of individuals who are still missing.
