North Carolina Hurricane Victims Demand Accountability Following Helene’s Devastation
In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic impact, victims from the hardest-hit areas of western North Carolina are expressing deep frustration and anger at the federal government’s response. Communities such as Asheville, Chimney Rock, Swannanoa, and Biltmore Village have experienced significant destruction, with flash flooding leading to the tragic loss of more than 200 lives.
Residents are struggling to navigate the aftermath, with many questioning the effectiveness and timeliness of the government’s aid efforts. An Asheville woman, standing amid a pile of debris, voiced her despair in an interview with NBC News, stating, “No. No,” when asked if she had any faith in receiving help from the government. “Nobody’s going to help us… I don’t know what we’re going to do,” she added, capturing the sentiment of many in the community.
NBC: "Do you have any faith in the federal response here?"
Resident of Asheville, NC: "No. No."
Kamala was fundraising in San Francisco this weekend and Biden was holed away at his beach house — when the going gets tough, they get going. pic.twitter.com/Mczs3VveeM
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 1, 2024
Jordan Lanning, another resident, articulated his outrage during a Thursday interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters. He criticized the delayed response, noting it took five days for President Biden to visit the affected areas. “He didn’t think we were worth coming down to see us himself. He had to fly over on his way to Raleigh,” Lanning remarked, expressing a feeling of neglect from those in power.
EXCLUSIVE: Asheville resident Jordan Lanning, a victim of Helene who lost a friend in the devastating hurricane, gets emotional as he says it’s too late. “It took five days for Biden to come here. He didn’t think we were worth coming down to see us himself- he had to fly over on… pic.twitter.com/PYqJVhkHBk
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) October 4, 2024
The frustration has been further amplified by Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent announcement of a mere $750 in immediate aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for victims of Hurricane Helene. This decision has sparked nationwide backlash, especially in light of the Biden administration’s simultaneous pledge of $8 billion to support Ukraine. When questioned by Watters whether this amount was sufficient, Lanning responded emphatically, “No, it is not.”
“There are people who have lost everything,” he continued. “I’m not expecting [them] to give us thousands of dollars, but they can do more than that.” His comments resonate with many who feel that the government’s assistance does not reflect the scale of the disaster.
As the clean-up efforts continue and survivors grapple with their losses, the call for accountability from the federal government is growing louder.
Photo credit: Flickr
