What's really happening in Lake Lure
Despite what the mainstream media says, FEMA still exists, the town is open, and small businesses need tourists now — not when the headlines catch up
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Lake Lure isn’t gone — But federal red tape and misreporting are slowing its comeback
News & Commentary
LAKE LURE, N.C. — The national media finally caught wind of what locals have known since Hurricane Helene hit last fall: this mountain lake town took a beating. But while Reuters and others run with headlines about a “shrinking FEMA” and a resort town “in limbo,” those of us on the ground know better — because we’ve been here the whole time.
If the Lake Lure dam ever failed, I would likely have to evacuate, even though I live further down the Broad River in the Green Hill area of Rutherford County, outside of any municipal limits. My family nearly had to when Hurricane Helene hit last September, but the roads were impassable. Nearly nine months later, we still haven’t had government contractors come help pick up storm debris through PPDR (private property debris removal). We have tons of trees down. Our 2.33 acres is neighbor to the number one dog-centric campground in the country, 4 Paws Kingdom. Our waterway, a creek that is a Broad River tributary, has not been touched. My public records request from March to the county for the contract has not been filled. More to come on that…
Let’s get something straight: FEMA has not been abolished. The Town of Lake Lure has not shut down. Businesses are open, families are rebuilding, and volunteers — including faith-based groups like Spokes of Hope — are showing up when federal support is slow or uncertain.
Since Helene, I’ve sat through nearly every town council meeting (including the one on June 10 - watch it here), interviewed local leaders and business owners, and watched firsthand as this community pulled itself together. What’s frustrating is how quickly national outlets parachute in, spin a narrative about despair, and move on, ignoring the day-to-day resilience of this place.
Don’t Wait for Washington to Get the Story Straight
Lake Lure is still waiting on long-term infrastructure funds — including up to $200 million for a new dam — but FEMA is covering 90% of current recovery costs, including debris removal. That’s down from 100% in the first six months, but it’s still federal money at work.
The bigger issue isn’t FEMA disappearing — it’s FEMA delaying. Trump-era reforms are redirecting hazard mitigation priorities and scrutinizing how funds are spent, especially on big-ticket projects with unclear timelines. That’s fair game. But what towns like Lake Lure need is clarity, not a guessing game.
And they need tourism. Now.
Main Street Still Matters
Lake Lure isn’t a ghost town. Yes, the lake itself is temporarily closed for cleanup, but the restaurants, markets, shops, cabins, and campgrounds are open. Locals haven’t fled; they’ve dug in. Every day that major media wrongly describes this place as “closed” is another day business dries up.
Jim Proctor, a town commissioner, and his wife Robin, who own Pine Gables Cabins, have kept their doors open even with construction noise and fewer visitors. “Without the lake, tourism slows,” they’ll tell you. “But without tourists, local business dies.”
We can’t wait a year for reporters in New York or Washington to figure that out. We need people to show up, book a room, grab a burger, and tell their friends Lake Lure is still here — because it is.
The Real Story Is Local
While federal politics play out in D.C., Lake Lure residents are rebuilding brick by brick. They’re navigating flood maps, grant applications, and construction delays — not slogans or soundbites. They need real support, not exaggerated headlines.
Yes, the future of long-term funding remains unclear. Yes, the hazard mitigation pipeline is being reassessed. But let’s not lose sight of the facts: this community is open, resilient, and ready for visitors. And it doesn’t take a federal agency to figure that out — it just takes a drive to western North Carolina.
Bottom line: Lake Lure is not in limbo. It’s standing tall, waiting for the tourists who believe in Main Street more than headlines.
“This Doesn’t Mean I’ll Stop Asking Questions”
Just because national headlines declared Lake Lure in limbo doesn’t mean the story is over — and it certainly doesn’t mean I’ll stop asking questions.
I’ve been to nearly every town council meeting since Hurricane Helene hit in Lake Lure, Chimney Rock and Rutherford County. When I miss one it’s often because they’re having meetings at the same time and there’s only one of me.
I’ve watched the local government do its best with what it has, and I’ve watched reporters fly in for one dramatic quote and fly out again. But the real work is in the details, and the truth is: you have to keep asking.
Here are five questions I’ll keep asking — no matter what FEMA, Washington, or anyone else says:
Where is the engineering report that FEMA says it’s waiting on?
They claim federal dollars can’t flow until assessments are complete. So who’s responsible for delivering those? Where’s the transparency in that process?Why did FEMA deny North Carolina’s request to extend 100% reimbursement past 180 days?
If the agency is still active — and it is — why cut off full support when the job isn’t done?What exactly replaced the BRIC program, and what is the new standard for “political neutrality”?
The Trump administration said the program was wasteful and politicized — so what’s the plan now? If we don’t invest in mitigation, are we just waiting for the next Helene?Why were six Republican-led states denied Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) requests?
If FEMA’s funding decisions are purely logistical, prove it. If they’re political, the public has a right to know. Either way, Lake Lure shouldn’t get caught in the crossfire.How are North Carolina taxpayers expected to fill a $200 million shortfall without gutting schools, roads, or other essentials?
Gov. Josh Stein says FEMA’s shift will burden the state. Who’s doing the math — and are towns like Lake Lure being heard in those budget rooms?
These are not rhetorical questions. They are open questions — and they remain open until someone answers them clearly, with facts, not spin.
So no, I’m not done asking. Not while the lake’s closed, the businesses are fighting to stay open, and the mainstream media headlines still get it wrong.
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Annie Dance is the publisher of Cops & Congress, a newsletter that tells the truth about what happens when disaster, democracy, and small-town policies collide.