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On Sunday, September 29th, I decided to load up my truck, stop at Walmart in Richmond, Virginia, pick up supplies, and drive to Western North Carolina.
At this point, I had not heard from my family for over four days, and the footage coming back from my hometown was shocking.
Helen dumped about 3 feet of rain on mountain communities, with wind gusts exceeding 130 mph in places. In a historic storm, Helen shattered a record set nearly 110 years ago.
Mayorkas' claim that Fema is 'very ready' rears its ugly head again in Helen's aftermath
As I took an unusual eight-hour trip home due to Interstate 40 being closed, my thoughts turned to the Nov. 5 election. But as time went on, I became worried that I would no longer hear the voices of southern Appalachia.
Floodwaters from Helen culminated in downtown Marshall, North Carolina, at 87 feet above normal. (Logan Clark)
My family was fortunately unaffected, but in many ways this is the inspiration for this work. Although I cannot be home to help with long-term clean-up efforts and do not have to worry about the safety of my family, I am aware of the impact of the election in these communities so that they can focus on rebuilding their lives. We believe it is important to raise awareness of
For families who have lost everything, this is the last thing they have to worry about. The friends I went to school with are still missing. The family I grew up with watched their home being swept hundreds of yards downstream. These families worry about their next meal and whether they will be able to see their loved ones.
In the days since the storm hit our community, our neighbors have come together in a big way to represent the authentic culture of Appalachia.
Our community is coming together in ways we have never seen before. But what many people are most concerned about is how this will affect their ability to vote in November.
While families cope with loss and communities come together to help each other, state leaders are developing plans to ensure those affected by these devastating storms have their voices heard at the polls. I need to start.
I've seen the social media posts and talked to many close friends and neighbors who are legitimately concerned about the politics going on here. Despite news articles and photo ops, they have never seen FEMA. They have never met the governor. All they saw was neighbors and outside private volunteer groups coming to their aid.
As Americans, we don't want to believe this to be true, but these are the experiences of southern Appalachia.
Towns have been removed from maps in battleground states like Georgia and North Carolina, many of them in rural, conservative areas that traditionally support Republicans.
Water has nearly receded in downtown Marshall, North Carolina, after flooding on Sunday, September 29, 2024. Multiple buildings on Main Street were washed away by the floodwaters, including the town's historic train depot. (Logan Clark)
Western North Carolina and southern Georgia are two of the most densely populated regions for Republican voters in their respective states. The absence of these voices could sway how states vote and ultimately determine who is elected in November.
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Just this week, the U.S. Postal Service announced major disruptions in both Georgia and the Carolinas. Concerns over the coming weeks of absentee requests for about 200,000 North Carolinians and Georgia residents include concerns that ballots may not be returned or delivered to voters.
With Wi-Fi outages in the region and no updates on when cell phone service will be restored, it will become increasingly difficult to communicate changes to voting procedures as the election approaches. .
Larger counties like Buncombe and Watauga counties may be able to accommodate these changes. But what about small counties like Madison and Yancey counties in North Carolina?
These problems are insignificant in the larger reality compared to the reality faced by so many on Helen's path. But it is the duty of all MPs and government officials to ensure that the victims of Helen's wrath are able to vote.
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The North Carolina State Board of Elections has begun the process to ensure everyone can vote. We urge Governor Roy Cooper and the elected leaders of Georgia and North Carolina to take proactive steps to ensure that voting is safe and secure for those affected by Helen. for.
Southern Appalachia will rebuild – it's in our DNA – but we need to ensure we have the resources we need to come back stronger. This includes essentials like water, dry food, formula, diapers, and, importantly, the ability to make our voices heard.
