**Helene Survivors Face Uncertain Future as FEMA Hotel Assistance Nears End**
**ASHEVILLE, N.C.** – Many North Carolina residents displaced by Tropical Storm Helene are still relying on hotel accommodations funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). However, hundreds of families in FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program are facing an impending deadline to check out, leaving them uncertain about their next steps.
According to FEMA, nearly 1,800 households across the state remain in hotels. Of these, approximately 1,200 are scheduled to check out by March 7, including 332 of the nearly 500 families currently sheltering in Buncombe County hotels.
### **Concerns Over Housing Options**
Many survivors have expressed concerns about their housing situation once FEMA assistance ends. Lenora Ann Wells, 67, who has been staying at the Red Roof Inn in West Asheville, is among those unsure of where she will go next. She hopes to receive rental assistance but fears she won’t find housing in time. Wells plans to request an extension from FEMA to remain in the program.
“A lot of people here are in a panic because they don’t have anywhere to go,” Wells said. “You have to stay in close contact with FEMA, and some are just not doing that.”
Buncombe County officials have been working to assist affected residents. According to a March 4 report presented to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, community outreach teams have connected with more than 2,400 people staying in 23 hotels.
### **Frustration Over FEMA Assistance**
Some survivors have criticized FEMA’s assistance, saying it falls short of their needs. Peter Soulios, another TSA participant staying at the Red Roof Inn, said FEMA offered him only a fraction of what he needed to repair his storm-damaged camper in McDowell County.
A repair estimate he provided showed the cost to fix his camper exceeded $11,000, but FEMA approved just $2,073.57 in home repair assistance. Soulios noted that FEMA has spent around $15,000 on his hotel stay, money he would have preferred to use for his camper repairs.
“When I check out on March 7, I’ll just throw a tarp over my camper and pray for the future,” he said. “This is not good for me, but it is what it is.”
### **FEMA’s Response and Next Steps**
FEMA has extended the TSA program multiple times following appeals from officials, including Governor Josh Stein and Representative Chuck Edwards. The program will now continue until May 26 for eligible households.
FEMA officials have urged participants to remain in contact, as failure to respond to calls for home inspections can result in loss of eligibility.
“Many times, our calls come from an unfamiliar number, and the applicant does not answer,” a FEMA spokesperson explained. “The call won’t come from our Helpline number.”
### **Resources for Those in Need**
FEMA encourages those at risk of losing TSA eligibility to seek assistance at a [Disaster Recovery Center](https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator) or call the FEMA Helpline at **800-621-3362**. Survivors can also contact the [North Carolina Disaster Case Management Program](https://www.ncdps.gov/helene/dcm) at **844-746-2326** or Representative Chuck Edwards’ FEMA helpline at **223-FIX-FEMA**.
As the March 7 deadline approaches, many Helene survivors remain uncertain about their future, hoping for additional support or alternative housing solutions.
Source: citizen-times.com