Where Is FEMA? How Disaster Relief Is Failing Americans
We went to North Carolina to get residents’ side of the story after Hurricane Helene.
People told us that the systems designed to help people rebuild and recover are failing.
It’s a much bigger problem than we imagined — and it’s only going to get worse. One solution? Making fossil fuel companies cover some of these costs. NY Governor Kathy Hochul has until the end of the year to make it happen.
To donate to the people we met:
Down Home North Carolina: https://secure.everyaction.com/m4jxzbjLFUW_thCEVfAIsQ2
Ellen and Farrell’s GoFundMe to rebuild Scorch: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-scorch-fitness-rise-after-hurricane-helene
Other organizations doing recovery work:
Asheville: https://www.belovedasheville.com/donate/
Black Mountain/Swannanoa: https://www.valleystrongdisasterrelief.org/what-do-we-need
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Comments
Latest news
@mattp4079
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
A billion dollars was directed from Minnesota Somali non profits to Somalia. Read about it.
@zanelilmor
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
1.fagisdead 2.sound 3.system
@elfaqih_net
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
I've lived in two of what you guys call "third world countries" and I've visited the US. Not a big difference. You have no clue what you talk about when you say 3rd World. In those 3rd World Countires I had free education (including university), and free health care. In the US I saw (many) people living in tents in the street (San Francisco is full of them), I heard how expensive it is to have a blood test, and how many people can't afford going to university. What the heck do you refer to when you say "3rd World Countries"? It pisses me off.
@heatherkandzior2731
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
FEMA haults grant money for a recount to not include the deported immigrants. But, does the dollar amount needed really change? Its not like any individual person ever gets any FEMA money anyway!!! Accept for maybe the state officials that get a little kick back for "working so hard", and shouldn't be!
@Centuryami
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
0:01 so what if it is like third world country live through like others do I have no sympathy for people that say it’s like third world country your arrogant egotistic bastards
@lynzcow
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Welcome to Trump's America, where Nazi gestapo ice units have more funding than the military and disaster relief is unimportant to this corrupt authoritarian president.
@bronickard7746
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
How do you have over 100 million dollars for a parade with tanks but not one dime for North Carolina
@janmacek1648
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
What did Trump?
@janetgilmore8006
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
25 million for a parade for t rumps birthday ..?
@Reds_guns
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Wendigoon was even doing more than fema
@omahaflynn5937
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
While the jet stream manipulation is all good 😮
@Alana50-6
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
I'm sorry for you all people that have lost your properties, it's really sad and unfair that Trump the idiot, is getting richer and now his son getting richer too "investing" and with some contracts….. and at the same time Trump making richer his cronies of the Paypal Mafia….. it's really unbelievable how corrupt is USA, and I'm Mexican… it's not fair how the government is spending money in surveillance, in wars, in stupidities and not helping you people. send you all my love to you. I tohugh taht only happened in Mexico, but it seems all the world is rotten with evil governments. THEY'RE APPLYING THE ANTI-HUMAN AGENDA ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
@Alana50-6
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
I don't like you doin the documentaries, when you interview people you are smiling???!!!! Come on…. be more empathic.
@Millyrooock
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
why did trump make a comment? we still haven't seen any aid from this. lol
@GoldenLife-uq2ms
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
GeoEngineering the weather friends.
@3238inTexas
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Hmm, is it "Disaster Relief" failing Americans or the Trump Administration preventing FEMA from helping? We know the answer.
@StuartNicol-k1x
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Another FEMA bone of contention for America it seems
@danasmith858
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
If you're waiting for welfare, you're a fool, built on a flood plain. You're a fool too. We don't give free money for fools unless you're a Democrat and importing illegals
@wvgolfnut1
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
You get what you vote for. Harris would've helped, but you let your hate and bigotry decide your vote. Now you're going to FAFO
@Mightus300
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
you are a third world country
@johnriesinger
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Well at least it was just failing at this particular time. Which means some people were receiving help. Now no one's receiving help. Which shows the difference of what four months can make.
@brycelynch2306
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Well you don’t have to worry about fema no more Trump is getting rid of disaster relief as the rich don’t need it.
@ellenlandowski1659
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Yall would be better off setting up a GoFundMe page.
@michelespier5879
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
FEMA was trashed by the present administration
@Knape-vz5ml
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Ok now this is where I have to stop you,there is no climate catastrophe. FEMA is not helpping people that are intitled . FEMA money went to people that are here illegal. You are trying to pa's the buck ,you want someone else to take car of your bils .
Are you going to pay more for al the times that we all had warm homes to live comfortably with the same fuel and the same compamys.This company and others provide fuel for all of us,this country would not advance with out these companys and the fuel they provide.
@Knape-vz5ml
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
If FEMA is not going to do there job ,then we don't need them.End FEMA,this is the fault of the left . The DemocRAT party is evil,no American should have to live like this after a natural dissaster. Government is proving that they can't get it done,at least the left can't get it done. The left doesnt get it done because they hate American people. FEMA money went to those people that came here illegal. And I don't mean a little money they got real money,they got our money.
@bryan19467
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
😂usa geedy geedy you reap what you sow🎉bunch of war mongers..
@erics5847
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Trumps golf budget is 300 million, it's money from the FEMA budget.
@AG-zs8jw
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Israel is getting 300 billion. They have medicare for all, paid days off, maternity leave, etc…😂
@griffinbars
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Private companies like Belfor exist.
@Grumpy-v6k
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
No it’s still there ,trump owns it.
@gfl1957
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
Lots of BS FAKE NEWS HERE.
@libertyblueskyes2564
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
No services from agencies helping the public can go without intense scrutiny and supervision' otherwise these agencies are vuolnerable to corruption and thievery
@dorecannon9640
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
After the fire on my Maui, the locals went down to the beach , ran All the visitors off put out their fishing lines and signs. That said, fishing for housing. These people are so used to being coddled by FEMA, unemployment and any number of other organizations where they receive free land free housing free rent free food. A state that brings in 20 billion dollars a year and yet they look to the USA government, the government They say they hate, to pay their way.
@mikesibert1723
January 4, 2026 at 10:24 pm
The narrator summed it up best and it is a common misconception of most of the poor souls in any situation that what she and many others assume is the job or objective of an emergency management agency is the immediate and total rebuild of the effected area and it's residents. She admits she is wrong. The objective of emergency management whether on the federal, state or local level is to reduce loss of life and property, and to minimize (not eliminate) suffering and disruption during a disaster. Once the area is deemed at a stable level then they will help manage (not provide) the placement of resources and people to further improve conditions. So the fact that FEMA also provides a small amount of money for immediate individual necessities is actually above and beyond. Contrary to popular belief due to rumor and misunderstanding the blame is pointed in the wrong direction. To address all the comments about aid to other countries, that aid is necessary so that a Ukraine situation does not occur on American soil to American citizens.
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