Staff Reports
In a move that some might see as politically motivated but is likely just good old-fashioned photo-op strategy, President Joe Biden took to the skies to survey the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene. Those watching couldn’t help but notice that he seemed more interested in showing up than actually helping. Flying over the storm-ravaged regions of North and South Carolina, Biden was briefed on the emergency operations in Raleigh before making a pit stop in Greenville, South Carolina.
The undeniable devastation has left 57 confirmed dead in Buncombe County alone, contributing to a grim total of 178 fatalities across six states. Amidst this calamity, Biden reportedly emphasized the need for federal support and expressed concern over a “man-made disaster” at the ports, drawing attention to the longshoreman’s strike that began just before his visit. While the President focused on issues beyond the storm, one has to wonder whether he grasped the gravity of the situation on the ground.
Biden Surveys Helene Destruction as Search for Survivors Continues
President Biden traveled to the Carolinas Wednesday to view the scope of the devastation firsthand from Hurricane Helene. At least 180 deaths have been attributed to the storm across six states. Skyler Henry… pic.twitter.com/I69FKIPIu5
— Afrik Times (@afriktimes) October 3, 2024
In a classic move of government action, Biden increased the federal disaster assistance for North Carolina to cover 100% of eligible costs for a full 180 days—just long enough for the news cycle to shift. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump demonstrated his knack for problem-solving by getting involved with local officials and reaching out to Elon Musk for help with broadband connectivity, showing that when it comes to crisis management, some leaders take a proactive approach while others simply do the rounds.
The storm’s aftermath is a brutal reminder of nature’s fury, with damage estimates soaring between $95 billion and $160 billion, depending on which source you consult. For comparison, Helene falls short of the infamous hurricanes like Katrina, which took nearly 1,400 lives, but this still doesn’t make the loss less tragic. Just think about it; in the wake of these disasters, it’s not just the infrastructure that suffers—it’s the communities that are left to pick up the pieces.
As electricity flickered back to life for many, over 408,000 folks were still left in the dark. Governor Roy Cooper’s administration has been busy overseeing a recovery operation that has deployed over 1,600 personnel, countless chainsaws, trucks, and more barricades than one can count. Not to be outdone, the state’s national guard has also joined the efforts, with 6,000 Guardsmen dispatched across multiple impacted states.
The feeling around the nation is not just one of sympathy, but also of disbelief at how some parts of the federal government are apparently spinning their wheels when local leaders are out there delivering food via mules in the Appalachians. When technology fails, it seems the good old-fashioned way may be the most reliable. The lack of progress on restoration by major communications companies only underscores the inefficiencies likely tangled in layers of bureaucracy.
With local and federal recovery efforts ramping up, Biden’s air tour may have been a marketing strategy rather than an authentic show of leadership. The ongoing recovery will take years and billions, but one has to question if the President’s focus on anything unrelated to the immediate crisis is merely a distraction from more pressing matters at hand. After all, when disaster strikes, personal involvement and real solutions tend to resonate far more than aerial views and carefully scripted remarks.
