Mullin visits town devastated by Hurricane Helene, promises reforms to FEMA
In his first official visit to a tiny North Carolina town devastated by Hurricane Helene, new Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin reassured locals he intends to reform FEMA — not eliminate it.
Chimney Rock, North Carolina — From the well-worn interior of a fire department in Western North Carolina, Markwayne Mullin reassured local officials that as homeland security secretary, he intends to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency — not eliminate it.
Mullin, on his first official visit in his new role, traveled to Chimney Rock , a tiny mountain town that was devastated by Hurricane Helene in September 2024 after 22.5 inches of rain devoured roughly half of all homes along the Rocky Broad River, carrying 1.2 million tons of sediment and wreckage to nearby Lake Lure — creating a 15 foot deep debris field. The lake will reopen in two weeks.
It was this backdrop where Mullin told officials that his goal is to shift FEMA's role away from being a primary responder and toward funding state and local governments. "We shouldn't be the first ones in and the last ones out," Mullin said. "The state is much more equipped… but we can be there to get them past the first heavy lift."
It took several lifts to dig out Chimney Rock — a process local, state and federal officials told Mullin is still ongoing, 18 months later — challenged by some uniquely stubborn red tape afflicting the mountainous region that was not built to withstand major hurricanes. The discussion, led by GOP Sen. Ted Budd, brought together emergency responders, elected leaders and FEMA officials who talked about the scale of devastation in tens of millions of dollars and in years.
Asked about delays and a backlog of FEMA projects, Mullin said the agency is working to accelerate approvals before the fast approaching hurricane season on June 1. "We're trying to push this stuff forward as fast as possible … so we aren't entering hurricane season behind," he said, noting FEMA is still managing 22 open and pending major disasters nationwide.
The new secretary bounced a small, pink rubber ball — his signature quirk — as he shook hands with locals and acknowledged frustration from residents who feel forgotten, pointing to recent funding approvals as progress. His visit came one day after FEMA announced $26 million to buy out 75 homes in North Carolina — a move aimed at helping families relocate out of high-risk flood zones and clearing the way for long-term mitigation.