Trump Orders Army Corps of Engineers To Begin Rebuilding In North Carolina
President Donald Trump announced Monday that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be deployed to North Carolina to assist with repairing riverbanks and roads damaged by Hurricane Helene.
During a visit to the state on Friday, Trump criticized the Biden administration’s delayed response to the disaster, expressing frustration over what he called an unnecessary wait for aid.
“I don’t know what took so long for the other administration,” Trump said, according to Breitbart News. “We have a lot of things in mind, and we’re getting the Army Corps of Engineers all set. You need your riverbanks fixed. You need a lot of roads fixed. And we’re going to get it done in rapid time.”
Trump directed his senior advisor, Susie Wiles, and other officials to expedite the Corps' deployment. “Get the Corps ready, and they’re going to get ready to go,” he added.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, comprising approximately 37,000 civilians and soldiers, plays a critical role in infrastructure development and emergency response. Under the National Response Framework and the Stafford Act, the Corps operates under FEMA’s direction to support state and local governments during major disasters.
Each year, the Corps deploys personnel across the U.S. and its territories for disaster response and recovery, with authority under Public Law 84-99 to directly assist state and local governments in addressing flood and coastal emergencies.
Addressing local residents, Trump noted that his administration had only been in office for a short time but was ready to take immediate action.
“We’re going to get you the resources you need and the support that you deserve,” Trump assured the crowd. “And we’ll be at your side through every step of the rebuilding. No American is going to be left behind.”
Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding, landslides, and severe damage across western North Carolina, including in the Village of Chimney Rock, Asheville, and Swannanoa. Other regions in Georgia, Florida, eastern Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia also suffered significant destruction.
Despite FEMA announcing in October that it had allocated over $45 million in Hurricane Helene relief efforts, many North Carolina residents remain dissatisfied with the Biden administration’s response.
Some reported seeing no FEMA presence and claimed they were left to fend for themselves. Others alleged that FEMA workers under the Biden-Harris administration were instructed to bypass homes displaying signs of support for Trump, according to multiple reports.
As the recovery efforts continue, Trump’s swift action to deploy the Army Corps of Engineers signals his commitment to rebuilding affected communities as quickly as possible.