It has been brought to my attention that Michael Whatley  is on the Disaster Response and Recovery Assessment House SubCommittee.

So let me get this straight...Whatley is supposed to be in charge of WNC Disaster Recovery which is suffering from lack of funds and this man in charge of those funds then he listens to how FEMA is "failing" ...Please join our petition to have this man removed. Oh and by the way he is the GOP candidate of choice to run for the vacant Thom Tillis seat.

My community, along with many others in Western North Carolina, has been devastated by Hurricane Helene. Even though it's been 10 months since Michael Whatley was appointed as the "Recovery Czar," the promised aid and relief have barely trickled in. Living in Swannanoa, NC, I see the direct impact of this apathy and neglect. Our friends and neighbors in Swannanoa and Fairview are still in dire conditions, many still living in tents, storage sheds, and FEMA trailers without essential utilities like electricity and running water.

Michael Whatley's response to our cries for help? He claims "things are going well," which couldn't be further from the truth. As winter approaches, we cannot continue to live like this, and patience is no longer an option. FEMA's withholding of millions of dollars in aid has left us with only 11 percent of the necessary funds for recovery. This is a stark contrast to the federal assistance provided in the aftermath of other devastating hurricanes like Katrina, Maria, and Sandy.

We need a leader who truly cares about the revival of our communities, someone who will fight for the resources we need to build back stronger. Michael Whatley's inaction and disregard for the urgent needs of WNC show that he is not the leader we need. To effectively manage the recovery efforts and help our communities rise from the ruins, we must demand that Michael Whatley step down immediately.

Join me in calling for a change in leadership—a move that will bring real, lasting recovery to Western North Carolina. We cannot watch our neighbors suffer any longer. Please add your signature to this petition and let’s push for the leadership WNC truly needs.