Dozens in western NC kicked out of hotels Tuesday despite FEMA extending deadline, officials say

Despite the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) extending the deadline, dozens of people in western North Carolina were left without shelter Tuesday night after being kicked out of the hotels FEMA provided as temporary housing for those impacted by Hurricane Helene.

On Monday, FEMA announced it was extending the deadline for its Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program for victims of Helene in western North Carolina.

Through the program, FEMA paid for hotel and motel rooms for thousands of people displaced by Hurricane Helene.

Tuesday just before 3:30 p.m., FEMA said on X that “current eligible occupants can remain in their lodging through the end of March 2025.”

But hours later, Senator Ted Budd posted this message on X:

“My office is hearing from dozens in WNC who have been kicked out of their hotels tonight, despite FEMA’s announcement yesterday that they were extending Transitional Sheltering Assistance through January 25.

“This is unacceptable. This needs to be fixed TONIGHT.”

Senator Thom Tillis also called out FEMA Tuesday night on X:

“My office has been helping dozens of Helene victims today who have been told their hotel vouchers expired despite not having a safe and livable home to go back to. Their homes have mold and broken windows…it’s 20 degrees tonight. Hotels are trying to help them, and a number of nonprofits are stepping up to pay for victims to stay in their hotels so FEMA has another day to get its act together.

“This is a total breakdown on the part of FEMA.”

This comes after Governor Josh Stein was in western North Carolina that same day.

On Tuesday, Stein posted a photo of himself eating a BBQ sandwich at JRO’s in Canton.

“My team and I have been working hard to maintain temporary housing assistance for people in western NC,” the governor said Monday, one day prior, on X.

Senator Budd said later on Tuesday that he had been in contact with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and encouraged those in need of assistance to contact his office at budd.senate.gov.

WRAL News reached out to FEMA, and this was the agency’s response:

“If any survivors still need housing assistance or feel their TSA eligibility ended in error, they should immediately call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362.”

If you were impacted by this situation and would like to share your experience with WRAL, go to wral.com/reportit.