North carolina’s hurricane recovery agency failed disaster survivors so badly that state auditor can’t calculate total waste

A devastating new state audit has revealed that North Carolina’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency—the agency responsible for helping Hurricane Matthew and Florence survivors rebuild their lives—was so catastrophically mismanaged that it became “a disaster” itself. The scathing 506-page report, released Wednesday by Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek, exposes systemic failures that left thousands of hurricane victims homeless and living in motels for years while waiting for promised housing assistance.

The agency, also known as ReBuild NC, failed at virtually every aspect of its mission, according to the audit. Despite being tasked with rebuilding communities devastated by the 2016 and 2018 hurricanes, the office proved incompetent at managing budgets, overseeing contractors, and most critically, delivering actual help to the people who needed it most. Hurricane survivors—many from vulnerable communities already struggling with poverty and inequality—were abandoned in temporary motel accommodations for extended periods while their homes remained damaged or destroyed.

The mismanagement was so extensive that auditors couldn’t even determine the full scope of wasted taxpayer dollars, highlighting a complete breakdown in financial oversight and accountability. This failure is particularly troubling given the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters affecting North Carolina’s coast and inland communities. The report raises serious questions about the state’s preparedness for future hurricanes and its ability to equitably serve all residents in the aftermath of climate disasters.

The audit’s findings underscore how poor disaster recovery management can compound the suffering of those already most vulnerable to climate change impacts.