Social Distancing

MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER HURRICANE HELENES DEVASTATION, A WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA CHURCH SAYS ITS STRUGGLING TO FILL TEMPORARY HOMES FOR SURVIVORS BECAUSE OF ZONING RESTRICTIONS. OUR NATE STANLEY WAS IN NORTH CAROLINA TODAY AND HAS MORE ON THE HOUSING HOLDUP. FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS TINY HOME LOOKS LIKE A GREAT TEMPORARY HOUSING SOLUTION FOR SURVIVORS OF HURRICANE HELENE. HOWEVER, A LOCAL PASTOR TELLS ME, BECAUSE OF RED TAPE, THEY CURRENTLY HAVE MORE THAN 20 OF THESE SITTING VACANT IN THE MOUNTAINS. SITTING ON THE BLOCK IS NOT GOING TO WORK. THE WINDOW. ITS NOT LARGE ENOUGH, DOES NOT MEET CODE. THERE MUST BE A FIRE BARRIER. WELL HAVE TO GO IN ABOVE THE PANEL. HAVE TO CUT THAT OUT. HES GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE WIRING. THIS IS EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO BE COVERED UP OR TAKEN. ALL TAKEN BACK DOWN. A LAUNDRY LIST OF ISSUES PREVENTING FAMILIES FROM MOVING INTO THIS HOME. ACCORDING TO ANCHOR BAPTIST CHURCH PASTOR RANDY BARTON, VOLUNTEERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY DONATED THESE STRUCTURES FOR FAMILIES DISPLACED BY HURRICANE HELENE. THEYRE EXPERT CRAFTSMEN, BUT THEYRE NOT USED TO DEALING WITH NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING CODES. HE WAS EXCITED TO HAND OVER THE KEYS TO WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA FAMILIES WHEN HE RAN INTO AN ISSUE STATE BUILDING REGULATIONS. WEVE RUN INTO IT IN ALMOST EVERY COUNTY THAT THE SHEDS BEING CONVERTED INTO STRUCTURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THEYRE NOT MEETING CODE. HE SAYS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE STILL IN HOTELS, AND JUST AS THEY SUSPEND SHELTER LIMITS AND THEY MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR OTHER THINGS, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS SO LOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? ARE WE GOING TO HOUSE PEOPLE INDEFINITELY IN HOTELS? OTHERS LIVING IN TENTS, WHICH IS SAFER? A TENT WITH AN OPEN FLAME HEATER IN IT AND SOMEBODY ROLLS OVER IN A SLEEPING BAG AGAINST IT, OR A SHED THAT HAPPENS TO BE INSULATED. WERE NOW GOING TO BE FORCED TO HIRE A CERTIFIED ENGINEER TO COME IN AND ACTUALLY TAKE THINGS APART AND DECONSTRUCT THE HOUSE TO SEE IF ITLL PASS CODE. AND IF YOURE INTERESTED IN HELPING ANY OF ANCHOR BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF MINISTRIES, YOURE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT THEIR WEBSITE. A LINK TO THAT CAN BE FOUND ON WY