Trump Administration Pledges Swift Action on Hurricane Helene Recovery
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy outlines plans for historic relief efforts in North Carolina and Tennessee, including major infrastructure rebuilding and FEMA reforms.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that rebuilding Interstate 40 in North Carolina, damaged during Hurricane Helene, will be the Department of Transportation's most expensive emergency relief project to date, costing billions of dollars.
- Efforts are underway to restore single-lane traffic on the critical highway within a month, with a long-term goal of fully reconnecting affected communities over time.
- The Trump administration is prioritizing equitable disaster relief for small-town communities, emphasizing that they will not be overlooked in recovery efforts.
- President Trump has initiated a review of FEMA's operations, signing an executive order to improve the agency's efficiency and exploring the possibility of shifting disaster relief funds directly to states.
- Hurricane Helene caused over 100 deaths in North Carolina and widespread destruction of homes, businesses, and infrastructure, leaving many residents determined to rebuild and remain in their communities.