NC disaster recovery agency failures: How did we get here?

The head of North Carolina's disaster recovery program, ReBuild NC, Laura Hogshead, once again faced tough questions from lawmakers during an Oversight Committee meeting on Monday. Her leadership and the program's slow progress have drawn criticism for years.

WRAL's Documentary Unit has extensively covered the program's struggles in Aftermath: North Carolina Hurricane Left Behind. Here’s a look at how we got here.

Hurricane victims left waiting

After Hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Florence (2018), thousands of low-income North Carolinians were left homeless. ReBuild NC was tasked with using nearly $800 million in taxpayer funds to help these uninsured residents rebuild their homes.

However, delays, red tape and mismanagement left many waiting years for help. Families like the Williamses lived in motels for years, relying on the program’s temporary housing assistance.

“This is how I have to live, and no one seems to understand. I’m so frustrated. I cannot believe it’s been three years,” Geraldine Williams told WRAL in 2023 from a small hotel room in Kinston.

To date, the program has spent $75 million on temporary housing for applicants.

Comparing ReBuild NC to neighboring states

Experts like J.R. Sanderson, who led South Carolina’s successful disaster recovery program, testified at a legislative hearing in North Carolina. Unlike ReBuild NC, South Carolina focused on permanent housing, avoiding costly hotel stays.

Sanderson rated North Carolina’s action plan for Hurricane Matthew as an “F.” “A lot of these problems could have been solved after Matthew and not grown and grown,” he told WRAL during a sit-down interview in 2023. He also described the state’s program as a failure.

Leadership under fire

Hogshead, who took over ReBuild NC in late 2018, has acknowledged the program's failures.

“These are my decisions, my staffing decisions, my policy decisions—and that is on me,” Hogshead said during a 2023 legislation hearing.

Despite the criticism, Hogshead has resisted calls to resign, insisting she is the best person to lead the program. Gov. Roy Cooper has also admitted the program’s pace has been unacceptable, calling for faster progress. However, Cooper has not removed Hogshead, a decision Republican lawmakers have repeatedly criticized.

Progress amid challenges

ReBuild NC’s performance has improved when it comes to monthly progress. The program went from completing just five homes per month in 2022 to over 100 per month in 2024. Yet, 1,400 applicants are still waiting for assistance, and the program is grappling with a $175 million deficit.

For families like Franklin and Rovertta Jones in Dudley, who recently moved into a new home, questions remain about the program’s leadership and spending.

“But [Hogshead] is making $100,000 a year while people out here are struggling,” Franklin Jones told WRAL.

What’s next?

At Monday’s Oversight Committee meeting, Hogshead defended her leadership once again, saying she would make changes if tasked with managing future disaster recovery efforts. However, many lawmakers firmly opposed assigning ReBuild NC additional responsibilities for Hurricane Helene recovery in Western North Carolina.