North Carolina Hurricane Survivors Determined to Vote Despite Devastating Losses

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Election officials report a record turnout in some of the hardest-hit areas in a crucial swing state narrowly won by Trump in 2020.

BURNSVILLE, N.C.โ€”From the hollers to the mountaintops, the rugged North Carolina survivors of Hurricane Helene who lived through hell and high water are turning out in droves to vote.

Political pundits have been discussing if voting would even take place in western North Carolina on Election Day, given the monumental loss and struggle facing Appalachian mountain residents.

Helene, a Category 4 hurricane, struck Florida on Sept. 26, leaving a trail of death and disaster as it traveled northward into North Carolina. At least 95 fatalities tied to the storm were reported in the Tar Heel State, which experienced devastating floods, landslides, and power outages.

The mountains of western North Carolina are considered a Republican stronghold. Storm survivors who spoke with The Epoch Times said the governmentโ€™s response to what some have called a disaster of biblical proportions was too little, too late.

Former President Donald Trump won the swing state by 1.3 percentage points in 2020.

The state is considered a must-win for both Republican presidential candidate Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.

The 25 counties in the disaster area contain 1.3 million registered voters. In 2020, Trump won 604,119 votes to Joe Bidenโ€™s 356,902 votes in those counties, according to political analyst Ray Bonifay, who noted the importance of the region, in an Oct. 18 commentary on RealClearPolitics.

Generational Loss

On a warm October day in Mitchell County, North Carolina, Tammy McMahan, 56, proudly wore an American flag sticker on her shirt proclaiming she voted.

A little house she inherited from her mother in the next county over, on Micaville Loop in Burnsville, suffered severe damage from the storm. Three generations of her family have lived there.

On the back porch, she pointed out family treasures that survived Heleneโ€™s massive flooding: ornate gold mirrors, a wooden magazine rack, concrete garden statues, and a brass clock that her mother loved.

Like others who spoke to The Epoch Times, her voice occasionally broke with emotion.

โ€œAnd so this is what I have left. This is it,โ€ she said, while scanning the items arranged on the buckled porch.

Byย Darlene McCormick Sanchez

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

250 Countdown

Those 56 intrepid men who signed put their very lives, honor and fortunes on the line. There was no auto-quill to accommodate their signatures.ย 

How the Senate Parliamentarian Changed the OBBB

An unelected bureaucrat does a important job in the U.S. Senate. Elizabeth MacDonough enforces senate rules on Trumpโ€™s โ€œOne Big Beautiful Billโ€.

Bioterror Roundup: CDC Director Nominee Is a Monster + New mRNA Pregnancy Studies

Bioterror Propaganda Roundup: The latest updates on the โ€œnew...

The Sacred Honor of the 56

Today we're celebrating the sacred honor of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Alligator Alcatraz: A Bold Step Toward Secure Borders

Alligator Alcatraz funded through FEMA, represents a decisive move by the Trump admin to address illegal immigration with efficiency and resolve.

New White House Faith Office Aims to Ensure US Is Beacon of Freedom for Others

The White House Faith Office wants to see the United States as the leader in advancing religious freedom, its faith director Jennifer Korn said.

Federal Reserve Rates Are Too High, Says Former World Bank Chief

Rates should be between 0.25 and 1.75 percent rather...

Newly Naturalized Citizens Say What American Freedom Means to Them

Nearly 820,000 people pledged allegiance to the United States and became naturalized citizens in 2024.

Noem Waives Environmental Restrictions to Fast-Track Water Barriers in Rio Grande

DHS Sec Kristi Noem waived federal environmental laws to fast-track construction of 17 miles of waterborne barriers in the Rio Grande in South Texas.

Trump Indicates Legislation for Hiring Illegal Aliens on Farms

Trump to allow illegal immigrants who work on farms to continue working to prevent unnecessary disruptions to farming across the country.

US Keeps Pressure on Chinese Goods Amid Vietnam Trade Deal

Transshippingโ€”rerouting goods through a third country to disguise the origin of the productsโ€”is a focal point of trade negotiations with Asian markets.

White House Report Reveals Top Earners, Staffers Working for No Salary

The Trump admin released its yearly report that shows the salaries for White House staffers, also revealing officials who arenโ€™t accepting salaries at all.

Transportation Secretary Urges Governors to Remove Political Messages From Crosswalks, Intersections

Duffy sent letters to governors, mayor of D.C., and gov of Puerto Rico urging them to remove political messaging from intersections and crosswalks.
spot_img

Related Articles