FEMA expands footprint in NC
ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE IN THE
VIRUS IN THE COMING WEEKS.
THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT AGENCY
IS INCREASING ITS FOOTPRINT
RIGHT HERE IN THE TRIANGLE.
WRAL CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF LAURA
LESLIE HAS A FIRST LOOK.
>> A FEMA ALSO HAS AN OPERATION
CENTER IN HICKORY OUT IN
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THAT'S
A JOINT EFFORT WITH THE STATE,
BUT ITS EXPANSION INTO DAN
BARRY HALL HERE IN RTP MAKES IT
CLEAR FEMA EXPECTS TO LEAVE
RECOVERY TO TAKE YEARS.
>> WHEN HELENE FIRST HIT THE
STATE, FEMA SET UP A TEMPORARY
OFFICE WITH ABOUT 200 PEOPLE IN
DOWNTOWN DURHAM. THE NEW
LOCATION CAN ACCOMMODATE 3
TIMES THAT MANY THEY RELEASED
THE ENTIRE BUILDING FOR UP TO
3 YEARS. STATE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT SPOKESMAN BRIAN
HAINES SAYS IT SHOWS FEMA IS
HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL AND IT
WILL BE A LONG HAUL. I MEAN, IN
ALL HONESTY, THIS WILL BE YEARS
PROBABLY IN THE MAKING, EVEN
THOUGH IT'S BEEN 3 MONTHS SINCE
HELENE HIT.
>> HAYNES SAYS THERE ARE STILL
MORE THAN 5,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IN HOTELS
AND MOTELS.
>> RECENTLY EXTENDED THE
DEADLINES TO APPLY FOR DISASTER
RELIEF. THE STATE HAS ASKED
FOR 25 BILLION DOLLARS IN
FEDERAL AID. THERE'S INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE WHICH GOES TO HELP
AN INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS.
>> A LOT OF THAT'S GOING TO THE
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS
REBUILDING COMMUNITIES. SO ALL
OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE,
THAT KIND OF STUFF, ROADWAYS,
HAYNES AS FEMA AND THE STATE
ARE WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER
AND RECOVERY EFFORTS ARE MAKING
PROGRESS. BUT IT'S SLOW.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE CAN MOVE
FASTER ON THESE THINGS. BUT,
YOU KNOW, THOSE IT'S JUST A LOT
OF WORK AND A LOT OF MOVING
PIECES AND WE HAVE TO KIND OF