By Nicky Smith
April 12, 2025
When disaster strikes, the government’s first duty is to protect and help its citizens recover. Unfortunately, FEMA has failed that test in Western North Carolina. As a candidate for Greensboro City Council and someone with deep family and community ties to Avery County and surrounding areas, I am outraged by the federal government’s denial of extended aid following the devastation of Tropical Storm Helene.
Let’s be clear: this is not just about downed trees or washed-out roads. This is about entire communities left in ruin.
Tropical Storm Helene, which made landfall in late September 2024, inflicted some of the worst storm damage in North Carolina’s history. Over 100 lives were lost statewide. Buncombe County alone suffered 43 deaths, and over 200 residents remain unaccounted for. In Avery County, historic flooding left nearly every home and road cut off from the outside world. Electricity, water, and basic supplies vanished overnight.
The economic toll has been staggering. Buncombe County saw its unemployment rate quadruple as businesses shut down. North Carolina’s signature Christmas tree industry suffered a $125 million blow, with some farms losing 80,000 trees—a year’s worth of income gone.
And now, FEMA says their job is done?
On April 11, 2025, FEMA formally denied Governor Josh Stein’s request to extend the 100% federal cost share for debris removal and emergency protective services. Their letter cites “insufficient justification” for the additional 180 days of aid.
Tell that to the families still living in church basements. Tell that to the small businesses still shuttered. Tell that to the grandparents standing in line at a food bank because their pensions no longer cover storm-related costs.
FEMA’s decision reflects a shameful failure to grasp the scope and scale of what Western North Carolina is enduring.
I have friends and family who are still without stable shelter, food, and income. I’ve seen the damage. I’ve heard the desperation. And I cannot sit back in silence while the federal government abandons our neighbors in crisis.
This isn’t just a mountain problem—this is a North Carolina problem, and Greensboro should care deeply. We are all connected in this state. When one region is ignored, it sets a dangerous precedent for how all communities are treated during times of need.
I am calling on every member of North Carolina’s congressional delegation—Democrats and Republicans—to step in. We need emergency hearings, funding extensions, and a renewed FEMA presence in Western North Carolina.
We also need state leaders, from the Governor’s office to the General Assembly, to push back hard against this denial and hold FEMA accountable. The people of Western North Carolina deserve more than a cold bureaucratic letter. They deserve action, support, and recovery.
If elected to City Council, I will always speak up—not just for District 4, but for the vulnerable, the forgotten, and the underserved across our state. Leadership doesn’t stop at city lines. It starts with standing up when it matters most.
FEMA may have turned its back. But North Carolina won’t.
It’s time we stand up for our mountain neighbors—and remind Washington that we don’t abandon our own.
Let’s build the future our city deserves. Greensboro is ready for a new era—let’s get to work.
Donate today, and let’s choose Greensboro’s future. Together, we can ensure that our city thrives for generations to come. Your voice matters—your vote matters—your support matters. Let’s make it count.
– Nicky Smith
Candidate for Greensboro City Council, District 4
