From Staff Reports

Members of the Asheville-based Council of Independent Business Owners  heard from — and questioned the efforts by — FEMA and Buncombe County officials during CIBO’s monthly early-morning meeting Dec. 6, Ashville television station WLOS (News 13) reported later on Dec. 6.

News 13 added that “emotions ran high” at the meeting. “Members made their voices heard and asked tough questions of FEMA and Buncombe County officials, with visible tension between members and officials at certain times during the meeting,” the TV station noted.

Jeremy Plemmons, a CIBO member who owns rental properties in Buncombe County, said many of his residents have experienced difficulty getting assistance.

“FEMA was late on getting here, they were late in helping us and they’re still not clear on what exactly they can help us with and what the guidelines are to help that,” News 13 quoted Plemmons as saying.

Meanwhile, FEMA representative Hannah Vick provided an overview of th programs, such as the Individual Assistance Program, and reiterated that 1,500 people in Buncombe County alone are living in hotels after Helene.

Several times, Vick reportedly was asked about people still living in tents throughout Buncombe and surrounding areas, more than two months after Tropical Storm Helene. (The storm wreacked its wrath on the area on Sept. 27.)

“Now actually we went out with the county as early as last week to look at the tents to visit the people who have been identified in tents,” News 13 quoted Vick as replying. “And we’re not seeing those individuals do not have access to FEMA assistance or the county assistance.”

The TV station added, “Vick later clarified after the meeting, that the individuals they spoke to did not accept FEMA assistance and had chosen to live there.”

Buncombe County Planning Director Nathan Pennington held back tears when he began of his presentation, asserting, “And I tell you all this because we’re still processing a lot of trauma and it’s hard, it’s really, really hard,” News 13 reported.

Pennington also fielded questions about the Hazard Mitigation Program, a program funded by FEMA but run by the state, which buys back flooded land or raises a home to help avoid future flooding.

“However, he could not provide a timeline for when those grants would be provided,” the TV station noted, adding that “business-owners News 13 heard from said they hope FEMA listens to their concerns, improves their response, and takes down red tape.”