A Man-Made Disaster, Episode 3: Disaster Politics

Two years after Hurricane Helene killed more than 100 people in the state and caused nearly $60 billion in damage, Western North Carolina is still struggling to recover. In many places, debris is piled high, roads and bridges are gone and people are living in damaged homes – much like they were right after the storm. A year-long investigation by Blue Ridge Public Radio found that policy changes and cuts to FEMA made by the Trump administration have left disaster-stricken communities waiting longer — or excluded altogether — from help that's been promised.

In Episode 3 of A Man-Made Disaster, the U.S. Congress has failed to pass funding that could help thousands of survivors of Hurricane Helene. Why has aid been so hard to get?

For more about Hurricane Helene, stream our 2025 documentary, Hurricane Helene’s Deadly Warning on the FRONTLINE website, our YouTube channel, or the PBS App.

Listen to the enhanced audio-only version of Hurricane Helene's Deadly Warning on our website, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.