“A Man-Made Disaster” is a collaborative podcast series by Blue Ridge Public Radio and FRONTLINE (PBS) that delves into the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.
After more than a year of investigative reporting, the series exposes how changes to FEMA during the Trump administration have prolonged or denied aid to communities affected by natural disasters.
Listen or download “A Man-Made Disaster” here.
For over a year, we conducted extensive research across the counties in Western North Carolina heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. The storm, which struck in September 2024, claimed at least 107 lives, caused unprecedented flooding and landslides, and resulted in nearly $60 billion in damages.
Our investigation involved scrutinizing hundreds of government documents and interviewing numerous officials at various government levels.
A joint investigation by BPR, backed by FRONTLINE’s (PBS) Local Journalism Initiative, highlights the policy shifts that have either delayed or denied aid to thousands of North Carolinians seeking to recover from Helene’s devastation.
Despite President Donald Trump’s commitment to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, his administration, in fact, intensified the paperwork and criteria required for federal disaster assistance. The alterations in federal policies have postponed aid or decreased the number of North Carolinians eligible for assistance.
“ When you get hit by something like this … what you thought your world was is now completely gone.”
Steve Hayo, WNC homeowner
Important findings in “A Man-Made Disaster” focus on the Trump Administration’s actions post-Hurricane Helene, including:
- Aid delayed: Beginning in early 2025, the Trump Administration enacted policies that delayed disaster relief funds, with a backlog of $17 billion due to requirements set by then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Cuts to FEMA and decisions by the Department of Government Efficiency further exacerbated delays, leaving local governments in North Carolina awaiting reimbursements for recovery expenses. This has hindered debris removal efforts, resulting in piles of debris on private lands and rivers.
- Less help for homeowners: A Biden-era policy aimed at simplifying FEMA’s buyout program for homes damaged in storms was revoked by the Trump Administration. This forced North Carolina to reapply for buyouts, leaving some homeowners who initially qualified without assistance.
- Rebuilding funds in limbo: Since Trump took office, no specific long-term recovery funding for Helene has been approved by Congress. Without additional funding, approximately 2,100 North Carolinian homeowners remain without aid from the RENEW NC rebuilding program.
“You basically lost two years of recovery.”
Craig Fugate, past FEMA administrator under former President Barack Obama
Federal disaster funding has become a contentious issue since Helene, according to multiple officials, including sitting Republican members of Congress. Following the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats will assume control of the U.S. House and Senate in January.
Representative-elect Jamie Ager, a Democrat from Western North Carolina, has expressed that securing additional recovery funding is his primary goal.
“I feel like we can go push on that, and remind people that this community still has a long way to go to recover, and part of my job is to help deliver that funding,” Ager stated on election night.
In the Senate, former Governor Roy Cooper will join Ager in Washington, advocating for more recovery funds from the Trump administration.
“An additional congressional appropriation is perhaps the single most important thing that can happen for North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.”
Matt Calabria, director of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina
Listen to ‘A Man-Made Disaster’ Free
Investigative journalist Gerard Albert III from Blue Ridge Public Radio spent over a year uncovering the reasons behind the federal government’s delayed response to the disaster.
All episodes of “A Man-Made Disaster” are available for free download here.
The podcast series is a production of Blue Ridge Public Radio, supported by FRONTLINE’s Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The BPR team is led by Eddie Garcia, with Ele Ellis as station CEO and General Manager. Original podcast music by Madeline Deirhauf and Jackson Grimm.
Contributors to this series include:
- Anna Douglas, lead editor/project manager
- Alicia Zuckerman, story editor
- Erin Texeira and Mia Zuckerkandel, FRONTLINE editors
- Merritt Jacob, audio engineer
- Fendall Fulton, fact-checker
- Mike Tadych, legal
- Grace Powers, social media contributor
- Chris Font, digital design
Special thanks to Aminah Jenkins, Eric Sagara of Big Local News at Stanford University, Debbra Goh, Laura Lee, and the Knight Foundation.
