Trump To Begin First Presidential Visit to Disaster Zones in North Carolina and California
*WASHINGTON* – President Donald Trump heads Friday to two disaster-stricken areas to take the measure of the unprecedented damage Hurricane Helene caused in North Carolina and devastating wildfires have wrought in California. His visit focuses on addressing the needs on the ground, particularly in fire-prone Southern California and flood-ravaged western North Carolina.
Hurricane Helene resulted in catastrophic destruction in five states during late September with 104 dead, $60 billion in damage, and thousands of people left homeless. Western North Carolina was hardest hit, with cities such as Asheville literally submerged. Flooding, power outages, and winds as high as 140 mph cut off residents, overwhelmed rescue forces, and laid waste to an entire region.
Governor Josh Stein intends to meet with Trump in Asheville to discuss federal aid for recovery. “Gov. Stein looks forward to addressing what western North Carolina needs to recover,” said his press secretary, Morgan Hopkins.
Federal aid remains a contentious issue, as Trump has criticized previous disaster responses under Democratic leadership. Republican Senator Thom Tillis praised the visit, emphasizing the need to cut red tape and deploy resources quickly. While FEMA has provided $316 million in grants and temporary shelter for nearly 13,000 residents, rebuilding remains slow due to damaged infrastructure.
Trump has pledged a FEMA overhaul, stating, “I’d rather see states handle their own problems.” FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, replenished by $29 billion in December, was nearly exhausted after Hurricane Helene and other disasters.
In California, Wildfires have killed at least 28 people and burned 16,000 homes. More than 50,000 acres burned in Los Angeles County fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and dry conditions. The Hughes Fire scorched 8,000 acres in one day, forcing the mass evacuation of areas near Castaic Lake.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has sent more than 16,000 personnel, including firefighters and National Guard members, and 1,500 fire engines and 80 aircraft. Yet, Trump has consistently condemned California’s forest management and water policies, accusing Newsom of causing the repeated disasters. On social media, Trump described the situation as “ashes” and called for Newsom’s resignation.
Newsom countered by highlighting the state’s strong emergency response and emphasized climate change as being among the main factors of increasing calamities. Experts share these views as they acknowledge that a combination of climate change, drought, and human activities has led to the intensified fire spread in recent years.
Trump’s attacks have brought the issue of federal disaster relief into the fray. House Speaker Mike Johnson proposed attaching conditions to wildfire relief, citing mismanagement of resources in California. Senator John Barrasso blamed “liberal policies” for the scale of the fires and called for stricter oversight of future aid.
Trump’s visit highlighted the difficulty in balancing federal and state responsibilities in disaster response. In North Carolina, rebuilding is hindered by destroyed infrastructure, whereas in California, the focus has been on preventing future wildfires, such as burying power lines in fire-prone areas, an expensive but potentially life-saving measure.
Democrats have warned against politicizing disaster relief. “If you start this, it will never end,” said Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.
That is an economic cost staggeringly huge. Moody’s RMS estimates that the loss from the fires in Los Angeles is approximately $20–30 billion. Meanwhile, environmental damage continues to rise, with experts warning that climate change will only make these types of disasters more frequent and intense.
It is under these circumstances that Trump begins his federal efforts at addressing these crises, but given the deepening political divisions, a soft landing for recovery remains uncertain.
