Mayorkas addresses Asheville water shortages and management challenges
- Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas discussed the water supply delays in Asheville, NC, following Hurricane Helene.
- Local officials reported that they requested water before the storm but received it only after significant delays.
- Mayorkas emphasized the need for better preparedness and management in local communities for future emergencies.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which impacted the Asheville area in North Carolina, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressed the delays in water supply during an NPR broadcast. He acknowledged that the storm's effects were underestimated, leading to challenges in emergency response. Local officials, including Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder, expressed frustration over the slow delivery of water, despite requests made prior to the storm. Mayorkas noted that FEMA had shipped over 1 million liters of water to affected communities, emphasizing the ongoing search-and-rescue operations. He highlighted that some local communities were better prepared due to their experience with past emergencies, suggesting a need for improved management and response strategies in future disasters.