Institute for Southern Studies

09/27/2026

Today marks two years since Hurricane Helene crashed into North Carolina, devastating mountain communities, killing more than 100 people in the state, and causing an estimated $60 billion in damage. Two years later, western North Carolina is still struggling to rebuild. Our six-month investigation, published jointly by Facing South and The Nation, found billions in unmet recovery needs and deep turmoil at FEMA, where thousands of staff departures and repeated leadership changes have complicated the federal response. As of July, federal recovery funding stood at just $9.3 billion — less than 16% of estimated damages, far below the level of federal support provided after disasters like Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina.

Our investigation also examined the role of Michael Whatley, President Trump's handpicked Helene "recovery czar" and now the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in North Carolina. Despite Trump's pledge that Whatley would help lead the recovery, none of the four western North Carolina mayors we interviewed said he had reached out to them. Public records requests to 17 hard-hit counties yielded similar findings: 11 of the 14 counties that responded had no records of Whatley contacting local officials about Helene recovery.

The stakes extend far beyond North Carolina. Western North Carolina has become a test case for what happens when increasingly severe disasters collide with a weakened federal recovery system. As communities across the country face the prospect of more destructive storms, Helene raises urgent questions about whether the federal government will have the resources and capacity to help them rebuild. As Jon Council of Down Home North Carolina told us, "Folks need to pay attention to how [the Helene] recovery has gone, because this may be the playbook that we’re looking at for a lot of future disasters."

https://www.facingsouth.org/2026/09/two-years-after-helene-western-nc-struggles-rebuild-amid-fema-turmoil-and-missing-recovery

09/21/2026

Durham Dreams brought together 150+ people this weekend to envision a safer and more just future for the city. This story also highlights our research on how Durham's wealthy institutions can ensure better jobs, schools and housing.

“Durham is this growing, prosperous place and really what our data was showing is that there’s so many people that are falling behind amid this growing wealth,” Chris Kromm said.

Over 150 people gathered at a rally hosted by Durham workers, unions and community groups Saturday to urge Duke to increase its financial contributions to Durham. Specific demands included raising the University’s minimum wage to $25 per hour and making payments in lieu of taxes.

09/15/2026

Check out Chris Kromm’s six month investigation for Facing South and The Nation Magazine into western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene, two years after the storm. Chris spent months interviewing local leaders, reviewing public records, and examining the region’s recovery efforts.

His reporting finds communities still facing billions of dollars in unmet recovery needs, while turmoil and staffing losses at FEMA have raised questions about the federal government’s capacity to respond to major disasters.

The experience of western North Carolina raises broader questions about how communities will recover as disasters become more severe and the federal response system faces growing strain. As Jon Council of Down Home North Carolina said: “Folks need to pay attention to how [the Helene] recovery has gone, because this may be the playbook that we’re looking at for a lot of future disasters.”

Read the full investigation here:

North Carolina has become a testing ground for an eviscerated FEMA under Trump. It could also be a political liability for missing-in-action “recovery czar” and GOP U.S. Senate hopeful and Michael Whatley.

09/10/2026

NEW: Two years after Helene, western NC is still struggling to rebuild — amid FEMA turmoil, billions in unmet recovery needs, and scant evidence that Trump’s hand-picked “recovery czar” Michael Whatley played a meaningful role

Our investigation with the The Nation Magazine

North Carolina has become a testing ground for an eviscerated FEMA under Trump. It could also be a political liability for missing-in-action “recovery czar” and GOP U.S. Senate hopeful and Michael Whatley.

09/10/2026

09/04/2026

Labor is at the heart of the Black Freedom Struggle.

In this conversation we discuss the central role of labor, lessons from our past, and how to confront escalating attacks on history itself.

09/04/2026

A new report from the Institute for Southern Studies or Southern Studies, publisher of Facing South, finds that despite Durham County’s growing economy, its public schools remain chronically underfunded, leaving students and educators with deteriorating buildings, staffing shortages and insufficient resources.

Durham, North Carolina is booming economically — but its schools are chronically underfunded, with devastating consequences for students, families, and staff. A new Institute for Southern Studies report looks at how the county's wealthy institutions and companies can help fill the gap.

09/04/2026

A leading scholar of Black social movements in the South talks with Facing South about the central role of labor, lessons from our past, and how to confront escalating attacks on history itself.

Watch Full Interview Here:

A leading scholar of Black social movements in the South talks with...

09/04/2026

A leading scholar of Black social movements in the South talks with Facing South about the central role of labor, lessons from our past, and how to confront escalating attacks on history itself.

A leading scholar of Black social movements in the South talks with Facing South about the central role of labor, lessons from our past, and how to confront escalating attacks on history itself.