In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we’re seeing a stark reminder of how natural disasters expose the cracks in our government’s priorities. As the death toll climbs—already reaching a heartbreaking 232 people across seven states—it’s impossible not to wonder why, with all the resources at our disposal, things still seem so… chaotic.
Take North Carolina, for instance, where the devastation is worst. Over 200 lives were lost, and countless others are still unaccounted for. And while President Biden has promised significant resources to help with recovery, the situation on the ground tells a different story. Phone service is spotty, electricity is out for 170,000 people, and search crews are scrambling to make their way through washed-out roads and mudslides. This isn’t just a freak accident; it’s a failure of preparation, infrastructure, and, yes, leadership. But don’t worry, Biden has called in 1,000 active-duty soldiers. Great—because that’s always the go-to solution when everything else falls apart.
Death toll from Hurricane Helene rises to 227, deadliest in US since Katrina: https://t.co/2Oa8bFAFMK
It was still unclear how many people were unaccounted for or missing, and the toll could rise even higher. pic.twitter.com/ZyRGqo24tv
— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) October 6, 2024
Sheriff Quentin Miller in Buncombe County says it all: 72 dead in his county alone, and 200 still missing. The government’s response? Well, they’ve got 840 volunteers going door to door with care packages. Look, it’s admirable, but it’s a band-aid on a gaping wound. This is supposed to be a wealthy, first-world nation, but instead, it’s starting to look like we’re improvising in the face of disaster, hoping volunteers can do what the big government can’t.
“To the people of Buncombe County, we know these are hard times, but we’re coming, we’re coming to get you,” Miller said.
And then there’s the destruction in Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. Georgia alone has seen 33 fatalities, including a mother and her newborn twins. Sadly, that number is only growing, especially with the missing unaccounted for and the extreme amount of debris and mud blanketing the area. Florida, hit hard by the storm, has actually made decent strides under Governor Ron DeSantis—2.4 million power outages restored in record time, while Biden’s handlers are still probably figuring out how to get a coherent message out. DeSantis may not be perfect, but at least he’s showing what a coordinated, fast response can look like. It’s no surprise Florida wrapped up search and rescue, moved on to clean-up, and sent resources to North Carolina to pick up the slack.
🚨🇺🇸UPDATE: Hurricane Helene
🔸Emergency Responder – “The Pictures and videos are nothing compared to seeing it in Person”
• there’s an incredible amount of Mud
• a lot of missing and/or stranded people▶️https://t.co/2kMWZnTF1x pic.twitter.com/SNhUSaGXX4
— EssenienneKat (@EssenienneKat) September 30, 2024
So, where do we go from here? Well, while politicians continue to debate climate change policies and how much of your hard-earned money should be thrown into government slush funds, the people suffering through Hurricane Helene are still waiting for basic services to be restored. It’s the same old story: promises of big action while the actual results fall short.
Meanwhile, in the real world, people are walking miles through flood-destroyed communities to make it to their daughter’s wedding, animal shelter workers are risking their lives to save pets, and small towns are coming together to rebuild what they can. Maybe, just maybe, these are the people we should be looking to for real leadership—because it’s clear they aren’t waiting around for Washington to save the day.
