Hurricane Helene Survivors’ Message to Biden, Harris

Hurricane Helene’s wrath devastated the Asheville, North Carolina, region while wreaking havoc across the Southeastern United States two weeks ago.

The Daily Signal traveled to Western North Carolina in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

While the mainstream media’s coverage focuses exclusively on ravaged metropolitan areas, like the fabled River Arts District in Asheville, The Daily Signal traversed many of the rural communities in Henderson and Rutherford counties to tell the stories of those hardest hit by Helene.

Our journey began last Saturday morning in Big Oak Mobile Park, a trailer park community in Hendersonville, which consists of about 40 homes. Its residents, many of whom are over 55 years old and in declining health, were without power for more than 10 days.

I am in Big Oak Park, a mobile home community 30 mins south of Asheville.

Its residents, many of whom are 55+ years-old and at-risk have been without power for 10 days.

Residents tell me that trash has been building up, inviting disease and bears.

More to come. pic.twitter.com/kOTZHXxH9b

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) October 6, 2024

The Daily Signal spoke with Doug Warden, 93, the manager of the trailer park community, who, with the help of his neighbors, used chain saws to cut their way out after dozens of oak trees collapsed on roadways and on people’s homes during the storm.

Notice the house on the left. A giant oak tree split it in half. The owner was home at the time and survived. pic.twitter.com/RWV2EQwenx

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) October 6, 2024

On Monday, The Daily Signal traveled to Lake Lure, which includes the community of Chimney Rock.

A series of drone footage from the areas most severely impacted by hurricane Helene around the Asheville area in North Carolina @DailySignal

1️⃣ Lake Lure pic.twitter.com/Zid6r9xQSz

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) October 8, 2024

Many of the residents we spoke with lost their homes to landslides and flooding during Hurricane Helene.

The Daily Signal asked people a simple question: “What do you want to say to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris?”

An overwhelming majority said that they are frustrated that the U.S. government is spending billions of dollars abroad instead of helping American citizens first.

Frank Butera, a business owner in Lake Lure, said, “It’s nice that you’re helping the illegal immigrants, but it’s time to help us people that paid taxes all our life.”

“It’s nice that you’re helping the illegal immigrants but it’s time to help us people that paid taxes all our life.”

I asked Frank Butera, a local business owner in Lake Lure, North Carolina, what he’d like to saying to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

He… pic.twitter.com/OMTY5sKzNA

— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyJr1) October 9, 2024