Hurricane Helene victims say FEMA is pushing residents out their temporary NC homes abruptly

MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Families in Western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene are being forced out of FEMA-provided homes.

FEMA's direct housing assistance program provides rent-free housing for 18 months after the storm, but residents are now receiving sudden eviction notices.

The program also allows FEMA to sell mobile homes and campers at discounted prices.

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Ginger Hall, a resident, said she must leave her temporary housing by Tuesday.

"If I'm not out by one o'clock tomorrow, they're going to charge me $3,000 a month to live here, and I can't afford $3,000 a month. I don't have no income," Hall said.

Hall has documents allowing her to stay on the property in McDowell County until March 29. She had been living at the Old Fort RV park after her camper was destroyed.

Another resident at the RV park, Kelli Hart spoke about FEMA representatives conducting inspections every two weeks. Hart said FEMA is scheduled to recertify her home on Tuesday to determine if she can remain. Her last visit did not go well.

"They had police out there. They were banging on my windows and all kinds of stuff. And they handed these papers that just said you have to be out. Some of us don't have any income. Some of us don't have any family, and we don't have any transportation, and it's hard to look for places," said Hart.

She wishes FEMA would show more compassion toward those struggling to find housing.

The exact number of families facing early eviction remains unclear.

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