April 7, 2026 / 9:32 PM EDT / CBS News
Chimney Rock, North Carolina — From the well-worn interior of a fire department in western North Carolina, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told local officials he intends to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency, not eliminate it.
On his first official visit in the role, Mullin traveled to Chimney Rock, a tiny mountain town devastated by Hurricane Helene in September 2024 after 22.5 inches of rain destroyed roughly half of the homes along the Rocky Broad River and carried about 1.2 million tons of sediment and wreckage into nearby Lake Lure, creating a 15-foot-deep debris field. The lake is set to reopen in two weeks.
Mullin said he wants to shift FEMA’s role away from being the primary on-the-ground responder and toward funding state and local governments. “We shouldn’t be the first ones in and the last ones out,” he said. “The state is much more equipped… but we can be there to get them past the first heavy lift.”
Local, state and federal officials told Mullin the recovery is still ongoing 18 months later, hampered by red tape in a mountainous region not built to withstand major hurricanes. The discussion, led by GOP Sen. Ted Budd, included emergency responders, elected leaders and FEMA officials who described devastation measured in tens of millions of dollars and years of recovery work.
Asked about delays and a backlog of FEMA projects, Mullin said the agency is trying to accelerate approvals before the June 1 start of hurricane season. “We’re trying to push this stuff forward as fast as possible … so we aren’t entering hurricane season behind,” he said, noting FEMA is managing 22 open and pending major disasters nationwide.
Mullin, known for bouncing a small pink rubber ball as a quirk, shook hands with residents and acknowledged frustration from those who feel forgotten, pointing to recent funding approvals as progress. His visit came a day after FEMA announced $26 million to buy out 75 North Carolina homes — intended to move families out of high-risk flood zones and allow for long-term mitigation.
Thousands of other cases remain unresolved. “We got the first 75 out, but we’re looking at the other ones,” Mullin said, referring to housing assistance. “We’re honestly… working from the easiest to the hardest ones. We got to get the money flowing at some point. That’s part of the backlog.”
Officials praised Mullin for rescinding a memo from former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that required her office’s approval on all DHS contracts and grants over $100,000, including FEMA disaster relief. “That’s leadership,” Budd said.
Mullin pushed back on suggestions the administration intends to shutter FEMA, saying President Trump had spoken about “weaning” states off FEMA assistance and that the aim is reform. “I think the president was talking about reforming FEMA,” Mullin said. “We want to make sure we get the dollar closer to the state… because when you’re dealing with federal contracts… the price seems to double because of the amount of bureaucracy.”
He also confirmed the administration is working on naming a permanent FEMA administrator but declined to share specifics, noting the Senate confirmation process is a significant hurdle.
“A thousand-year storm”
Local leaders and first responders described Helene’s rainfall and flooding as a “thousand-year storm” that wiped out roads, severed homes, damaged utilities and left communities struggling to restore basic services. Smaller, rural counties have had to front recovery costs and wait months for federal reimbursement, often with limited staff and resources. Officials complained about overlapping rules, slow approvals and rigid policies that complicate rebuilding and bury survivors in paperwork.
Mullin said he’s open to streamlining processes, reducing backlogs and giving more decision-making flexibility to local leaders, but he struck a cautious tone for residents still waiting for aid. “We’re going to do everything we can possibly do to make it happen,” he said. “But the federal government isn’t going to take care of everybody’s problems … we’re there to help ease the pain.”
He also pledged that FEMA workers would be paid for hours worked during the first six weeks of the shutdown by Friday, with paychecks reaching bank accounts by Monday.
“This is my hometown”
Eighteen months after Helene, trailers remain along the Rocky Broad River and debris still falls from homes ripped open by floodwaters. The Chimney Rock Fire Department served as refuge and command post during the storm, which brought mudslides and flash flooding that tore apart homes and washed away roads. Chimney Rock State Park was closed for nine months after the hurricane.
Inside the fire station, Fire Chief Chris Melton pointed to a torn-up American flag pulled from the river during rescues. “I haven’t brought that flag out until yesterday,” Melton said, choking up. “This is my hometown.” Mullin suggested the flag be framed and offered to pay for it, directing a FEMA employee to send him the bill.
Earlier in the day, Mullin walked the banks of the Broad River with local leaders, jumping over boulders and surveying the area residents call “the town that washed away,” where floodwaters piled debris, ripped apart cottages and reshaped the landscape. Locals at River Watch Bar and Grille noted the unusually large crowd watching the visit: parking lots were full of government vehicles. One patron quipped, “I guess this is what happens when the government comes to town,” while another called it a “dog and pony show.” The bartender said business had been busy since Interstate 64 reopened traffic from Asheville last week, adding, “But hey, we’re not mad at it. We’re just happy that everybody is finally here.”
For Mullin, the test will be whether symbolic gestures and promises made in rooms like the Chimney Rock fire station translate into faster help before the next hurricane season.