Her question relates to a claim being spread around social media that the government is allegedly paying for 100% of the damage in California, but not in North Carolina. WBTV’s

The federal response to the California wildfires has so far mimicked the government’s response to Hurricane Helene hitting North Carolina in September 2024. In both instances, President Joe Biden declared disasters and later increased the percentage of costs the federal government would absorb for emergency work to 100%.

The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles carry a warning for western North Carolina: It could be next. Ironically, it’s a hurricane that has raised the fire risk. Hurricane Helene toppled trees over 820,000 acres of forest in western North Carolina in September. Now that debris could dry into kindling.

NORTH CAROLINA, USA — Wildfires have destroyed thousands of homes across Los Angeles and Southern California. Many residents are now faced with how to move forward. Federal, state, and local agencies, along with various organizations, are actively assisting those affected by the wildfires.

FEMA isn't paying significantly more in immediate aid to Los Angeles fire victims than to Hurricane Helene survivors. That claim is satire.

FEMA administrators warned on Sunday that some hurricane victims may soon lose access to their temporary housing.

The North Carolina chapter of the American Red Cross has deployed several volunteers to help those impacted by the wildfires.

Nine disaster-trained volunteers from the American Red Cross of North Carolina are deploying to support disaster relief operations in California. With tens of thousands of individuals and families forced from their homes due to wildfires in Los Angeles,

President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office Monday, has been highly critical of California officials’ efforts to prevent such wildfires. He hasn’t threatened to take away any fire-related aid, though has threatened to withhold aid to the state in the past.

Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based nonprofit specializing in disaster relief, is on the ground in LA County distributing meals to victims, volunteers, firefighters and other first responders. Mercy Chefs also continues to serve meals in western North Carolina since the region was devastated by Hurricane Helene in late September.