WEATHER FORECAST FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA: Friday, January 10, 2025: The day starts off dry but will be cloudy and cold with a high of 38°F. A winter storm is expected starting mid-morning, bringing a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain into Saturday morning. The forecast includes 2-4 inches of snow in higher elevation counties like Person, Granville, and Mecklenburg, with 1-3 inches across most of central NC, and less than an inch south of Pinehurst and Wilson.
🚨 #BREAKING: In 24 hours, FEMA will be kicking out 3,500 families in #WNC out of hotels in the middle of a 14° winter snowstorm.
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) January 9, 2025
Homeless shelters are now calling churches, scrambling to set up more beds as the number of people in shelters in #WNC is likely to DOUBLE tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/mYLNVZO41E
🚨#BREAKING: FEMA is NOT ANSWERING the phone calls of #WNC victims begging to extend their motel stays.
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) January 8, 2025
Mike McGraw, a retired veteran said,
"I only have one option, to live in my truck until I can find some other place to live."
It's 16° and snowing outside. pic.twitter.com/IGNAnQHRIU
🚨#BREAKING: MASS PANIC is setting in across #WNC as FEMA is refusing to extend hotel vouchers for 3,500 families, with nowhere to go.
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) January 9, 2025
Protests have erupted in across #WNC as FEMA is kicking people out of hotels, in 14° weather, many still waiting on FEMA to inspect their homes. pic.twitter.com/8BUB6hUZwm
From this report on MSN: https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/natural-disasters/fema-ends-housing-aid-for-some-helene-survivors-in-western-nc-amid-bitter-winter/ar-AA1x95S0…
FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program is providing hotel rooms to thousands of Western North Carolina survivors of Helene. However, on Jan. 3, FEMA began notifying families checked into either hotel or motel rooms, that they are no longer eligible for FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program.
Apparently, it’s important for survivors to keep in touch with FEMA, provide regular updates on housing status and update contact information so their recovery process is not delayed.
Survivors may stay in a Transition Assistance Sheltering hotel or motel room provided.
WHY ARE THERE LINES A MILE LONG FOR PROPANE AND HEATERS TODAY IN #WNC WHEN CONGRESS GAVE FEMA $100 BILLION DOLLARS?!!!!!!
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) January 9, 2025
- Keep in touch with FEMA by keeping your contact information updated.
- Are eligible for FEMA housing assistance.
- An inspection finds a home is unsafe to occupy. Inspections are difficult to arrange.
- Have not received rental assistance from FEMA.
- Don’t have insurance that provides coverage for living expenses from the disaster.
- Did not withdraw your FEMA application.
- Comply with the program’s terms and conditions.
Asheville residents call on FEMA to extend housing aid for Helene storm victims
Here's my initial call map & expected predominant precipitation types for the winter storm that will impact the Carolinas Friday into Saturday.
— Eric Webb (@webberweather) January 9, 2025
Thanks to warm advection/a warm front aloft, a sloppy mess of snow, sleet, and/or freezing rain is likely, with a light-moderate glaze… pic.twitter.com/hogFEEYuvw