Last week, Hurricane Helene ravaged North Carolina and other southeastern states. The Category 4 hurricane made landfall in Florida, where it traveled north through six states. The torrential rainfall and disastrous flooding caused severe infrastructure damage and loss of human life, with over 200 casualties in North Carolina alone. According to the North Carolina State Climate Office, the region received “more than three months worth of rainfall in three days”.
Western North Carolina has been particularly devastated. Despite Asheville being regarded as a “climate haven”, highways have been destroyed and power lines have been downed. Many citizens are facing power outages and a lack of clean, running water. Officials have been advising residents to haul water from swimming pools for non-drinking needs. Relief efforts are still ongoing, with officials distributing meals and water.
In Chimney Rock, the destruction is especially terrible. Cars and entire buildings were swept away during the flooding. Nearly every single home or business has been damaged, and images of the damage have been widely circulating on the internet. A Facebook post by Pamlico County Emergency Management described the destruction as "unimaginable." The neighboring region of Lake Lure was also affected. The economies of both towns are largely dependent on tourism, meaning that recovery will be difficult amidst the wreckage.
Deanne Criswell of the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in an interview that the states affected by the storm "are going to have very complicated recoveries, but we will continue to bring those resources in to help them, technical assistance as they're trying to identify the best ways to rebuild."
President Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris, and Former President Donald Trump have either visited or made plans to visit zones affected by the hurricane. In a visit with Governor Roy Cooper, Biden said “In a moment like this, we put politics aside. Or at least we should put it all aside, and we have here. There are no Democrats or Republicans, only Americans. And our job is to help as many people as we can as quickly as we can and as thoroughly as we can."
If you’d like to make a difference, Hoggard Surfrider Club and Youth Climate Action Coalition are organizing a drive for supplies to benefit those affected by the hurricane in western North Carolina. The drive is collecting canned goods, personal hygiene items, and first aid supplies. For a detailed list, refer to the poster below.
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