It’s been more than five months since Hurricane Helene devastated several states across the Southeast. In North Carolina, where Helene killed more than 100 people and caused nearly $60 billion in damage, many of the hardest-hit residents have grown increasingly frustrated with FEMA, a federal agency that’s also been in the crosshairs of President Trump. William Brangham reports.

It’s been more than five months since Hurricane Helene devastated several states across the Southeast. In North Carolina, where Helene killed more than 100 people and caused nearly $60 billion in damage, many of the hardest-hit residents have grown increasingly frustrated with FEMA, a federal agency that’s also been in the crosshairs of President Trump.

Edit: Based on a lot of the repetitive comments I’m seeing, I would like to clarify two things. One, people don’t seem to realize that many of the places hardest hit by Helene, like Asheville and the immediate area, are bastions of liberalism who voted for Harris by a 2 to 1 margin. Two, it is horrifying to jeer for someone losing their home regardless of who they or their neighbors voted for.

  • aramis87@fedia.io
    691·
    13 hours ago

    Weren’t they chasing FEMA off with guns and stuff? And after that, didn’t they vote to gut FEMA? What did they think was going to happen?

    • Mobiuthuselah@lemm.ee
      1014·
      10 hours ago

      Hold up, that was one guy who threatened FEMA, and the majority of NC did not vote for Trump. It’s despicable to imply we deserve this.

      • Hanrahan@slrpnk.netEnglish
        182·
        10 hours ago

        The majority of the voters voted that way, alas you’re seiibg the result play out.

        Stay sane !

        • Mobiuthuselah@lemm.ee
          811·
          10 hours ago

          No they didn’t, he just got the most votes of any candidate. Some votes that weren’t for Trump weren’t for Harris either. The majority of NC voters did not vote for him. On top of that, look at the demographics of the hardest hit areas. Much of it is left leaning.

          We’re going to see the results play out regardless, but it’s pretty low to act like we deserve it.

          • notsoshaihulud@lemmy.world
            31·
            4 hours ago

            We’re going to see the results play out regardless, but it’s pretty low to act like we deserve it.

            dunno, when people are repeatedly told they are voting against their interests, but they still vote against their interests, then it is quite difficult to add to the baseline anger about them voting against their interest when their interest does not interest the party they voted for.

            • Mobiuthuselah@lemm.ee
              11·
              17 minutes ago

              You do realize there are many North Carolinians who didn’t vote for him, suffered badly from the storm, and are still becoming the target of other peoples’ smugness or rage?

              Regardless, picking and choosing which people you help or care about based on politics is shitty and makes you no better than the current administration.

              • notsoshaihulud@lemmy.world
                1·
                12 minutes ago

                Regardless, picking and choosing which people you help or care about based on politics is shitty and makes you no better than the current administration.

                Bro, did you check where the bar went? Not storming the capitol is sufficient to be objectively better than the current admin.

            • anomnom@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
              4·
              3 hours ago

              Yeah over 50% of turnout. Maybe OP was trying to claim non-voters?

              At any rate, they deserve the same federal help anyone who’s getting fucked by climate change, even if:

              North Carolina remains the only battleground state that Trump won all three times.