Federal officials are increasingly shifting the burden for disaster recovery to states. Congress hasn’t approved long-term recovery funding for Hurricane Helene recovery in nearly two years. How have these federal policy decisions delayed recovery for survivors in Western North Carolina?
On Tuesday, November 10, you’re invited to join Blue Ridge Public Radio at Asheville’s Fine Arts Theatre for a free, live program and discussion about recovery in our region — including previously unreported findings from our investigation.
Event panelists:
- Gerard Albert III: Blue Ridge Public Radio journalist who has spent more than a year investigating the impact on Helene survivors
- Matt Calabria: Director of the Governor's Recovery Office for Western North Carolina
- Sarah Labowitz: Senior Fellow, Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics Program at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace
The evening will feature photography and audio excerpts from A Man-Made Disaster, the new three-part investigative podcast published in collaboration with BPR and FRONTLINE. The program will provide a closer look at how changes to FEMA have slowed recovery, leaving mounds of debris uncleared, counties managing millions in cleanup debt and storm victims living in damaged homes.
Following the podcast launch on Blue Ridge Public Radio on November 9, this event will give Western North Carolinians the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of the people leading, reporting on and studying the recovery efforts.
Tuesday, November 10, 7:00 p.m. at Fine Arts Theatre in downtown Asheville
Please reserve your seat and join the discussion about our region’s recovery!