Helene Archives - Page 5 of 9

A hurricane’s historic destruction hasn’t stopped North Carolina election workers and voters

HOT SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) — Elections officials, poll workers and voters in western North Carolina have been adapting in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s destruction. The storm destroyed roads, bridges and homes, and left communities without power and water. Despite the widespread destruction, election workers have rallied to set up polling sites and help voters cast ballots during the early voting period in the crucial presidential battleground. Turnout during last week’s first day of early in-person voting set a record, and more than 1.3 million people have cast ballots since then. Many election workers and voters in a hard-hit Democratic-leaning county and others in a Republican-leaning one expressed a gritty determination to make sure voters’ voices are heard.… Continue Reading

Trump hurls a string of insults at Harris and repeats criticism of federal response to Helene

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Tuesday hurled a series of personal attacks at Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her “lazy” — a word long used to demean Black people in racist terms — and repeatedly questioning her intelligence and stamina. At an event in Miami, he said Harris was “lazy as hell” for not holding a campaign event. Harris spent her day in meetings in Washington and recording interviews with Telemundo and NBC. Later in the day during a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, Trump called Harris a “stupid person” and went on to ask: “Does she drink? Is she on drugs?”… Continue Reading

North Carolina county surrounding Asheville overcounted Helene deaths by as many as 30, sheriff says

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A sheriff’s office statement and data from the state show that the North Carolina county that is home to Asheville overcounted deaths caused by Helene by as many as 30. The information in the statement on Tuesday significantly reduces the death toll from the historic storm. Buncombe County officials had previously reported 72 deaths and are now deferring to a state tally of 42 deaths for the county. The county’s number dates back to an Oct. 3 news release and briefing by Sheriff Quentin Miller. But state officials, relying on reviews by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh, have consistently reported a number lower than that for the county.… Continue Reading

Trump repeats debunked claims about FEMA as he surveys storm damage in North Carolina

RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is blasting federal emergency responders whose work in North Carolina has been stymied by armed harassment and a deluge of misinformation. But Trump said Monday that he was not concerned that the aftermath of Hurricane Helene would affect election results in the battleground state. Trump was asked whether it was helpful to criticize hurricane relief workers after the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently paused its work in the area because of reports they could be targeted by militia. He responded by again attacking the agency and repeating the falsehood that the response was hampered because FEMA spent its budget helping people who crossed the border illegally.… Continue Reading

What to know about Biltmore Estate reopening after Hurricane Helene

North Carolina’s Biltmore Estate will soon reopen after being forced to close when floodwaters pushed by Hurricane Helene devasted the area. The popular tourist destination announced over the weekend that they plan to open and “celebrate the joy of the holiday season” on Nov. 2. According to the Biltmore Estate, the 8,000-acre property was impacted very little by Hurricane Helene. Along with the Biltmore house, the estate includes a conservatory, winery, gardens and overnight properties, which did not receive much damage. Some of the property’s more low-lying areas were the most impacted by the storm. Notably, the estate’s entrance experienced flooding and is currently undergoing “extensive repairs.”… Continue Reading

Marion community rallies to rebuild after Hurricane Helene

Two weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina, the community is still reeling from its unexpected destruction. Many residents were caught off guard by the severity of the storm, leaving homes and businesses unprepared for the devastating floodwaters that followed. In the wake of heavy winds and thunderstorms that preceded the hurricane, rivers and streams overflowed, inundating mountain towns. The deluge swept away trees, cars, and homes, leaving a trail of devastation. Now, relief organizations and local businesses are coming together to help the community start the long process of rebuilding.… Continue Reading

Battleground North Carolina sees strong early voting, despite obstacles created by Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Early in-person voting has started in the presidential battleground state of North Carolina. That includes in the mountains, where some potential voters still lack power and clean running water after Hurricane Helene’s epic flooding last month. More than 400 locations in all 100 counties opened Thursday for the 17-day early voting period. Nearly all of the sites planned for the 25 western counties hardest hit by the storm also were open. Close to two-thirds of all ballots for the November 2020 election were cast early. Traditional absentee balloting began a few weeks ago.… Continue Reading

After hurricane, with no running water, residents organize to meet a basic need

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — It takes water to flush a toilet yet tens of thousands of North Carolinians have been without it since Hurricane Helene ripped through the state three weeks ago. The storm swallowed mountain towns, damaged water infrastructure and killed nearly 250 people across the Southeast. Local governments have been overwhelmed and that’s spurring community organizing and innovation. In Asheville, some residents who have well water are donating it to other people. One man lay a pipe to the roadway to make well water accessible to the public. Others are hauling water from pools and ponds to those in need. Still others are teaching neighbors to build makeshift toilets using buckets.… Continue Reading

Man accused of making threat says he believed social media reports of FEMA refusing to help

LAKE LURE, N.C. (AP) — A man accused of making a threat that sparked a temporary shift in some western North Carolina disaster recovery operations said he believed social media reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was refusing to help people. William Parsons told WGHP-TV that he realized that wasn’t the case when he arrived in Lake Lure. A sheriff’s office says it received a call about an armed man who commented about possibly harming FEMA employees. Officials say Parsons was identified as a suspect and charged with a misdemeanor.… Continue Reading

Federal money to help states hit by hurricanes Helene and Milton nears $2 billion

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says the federal government has approved nearly $2 billion in assistance across six states to help people hit hard by hurricanes Helene and Milton. The federal government has been under intense pressure to show that it is getting help to areas devastated by the back-to-back hurricanes in late September and early October as it warns that more money will be needed to fund the response. According to a White House release issued Wednesday, about $911 million has gone toward damage caused by Hurricane Helene, while about $620 million has gone toward recovery from Hurricane Milton. Other funds have gone toward things like agriculture assistance.… Continue Reading