Cut off by Helene in western North Carolina, Republican Foxx is calling for more aid for her district

According to The News & Observer, the most rainfall was recorded at Busick Raws in nearby Yancey County, where 29.5 inches fell.

This is close to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi River in the continental United States.

The destruction of Helena

Rep. Chuck Edwards, a Republican representing the 11th Congressional District, also spoke to McClatchy on Monday about the devastation Helene left in its path through the state.

“It starts with so many roads being closed and impassable,” Edwards said.

Edwards said the move needed to be routed throughout the region. Smaller roads and bridges were washed away.

“Here in the mountains we have communities cut off from civilization that also have no electricity or cell service. They are literally cut off from the rest of the world.”

People who can leave have been waiting in lines for gas for more than three hours, and he worries the region will run out. A few grocery stores can operate on generators, but their food supplies are limited.

There are also those who cannot be reached.

“There are some we haven’t heard about yet,” Edwards said. “We don’t know their condition. Cell service is sporadic at best.”

Mobile phone failure

Foxx’s cell phone turned on and off, then went silent as she talked about the devastation.

She called back, sounding annoyed.

“One of the biggest problems we have here is phone service,” Foxx said. “People across the country are isolated because they don’t have access to a phone.”

Foxx said she is pleading with federal and state agencies to give her counties access to Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet company that offers mobile broadband connectivity. On Monday, the White House announced that Starlink satellite systems would be sent to every emergency operations center in North Carolina. On Monday afternoon, FEMA announced it had delivered 40 Starlink systems to the state.

Foxx said the lack of working cell phones is one of the biggest frustrations for lawmakers, first responders and residents. They are unable to communicate about issues across the board.

In the 11th District, Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers posted on social media his “frustration and anger” toward cell phone providers, saying they had failed his community when they needed them most.

“It is unacceptable and disgusting that cell service across the region is being blocked in our time of need,” Smathers told The Charlotte Observer. “There is no excuse for this. I mean, we knew a storm was coming.

Canton, a town of less than 4,500 people, is located 27 miles west of Asheville.

In Foxx County, she said, an Ashe County information technology employee was able to connect to Starlink. But other counties did not.

This includes Foxx, who says there are places with no access to the outside world – such as Beech Mountain, where about 700 people live.

“The only way to get to Beech Mountain is by helicopter,” Foxx said. “We have a connection with the manager upstairs, but the big issue is being able to talk to people and get supplies to them.”

Missing people

Midway through the conversation, Foxx’s second phone rang.

“I don’t have to take it,” she said. “He’s someone who calls to tell me he’s worried about me and praying for me.”

It’s a consistent feature of Western North Carolinians.

And something Foxx says he really appreciates now.

When Foxx isn’t assessing the damage, he calls his office.

Foxx and other members of Congress were among those who wrote to Biden asking him to declare a major disaster. On Saturday, Biden announced he had approved a declaration that includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover property losses for the uninsured and programs to help individuals and business owners.

On Monday, Biden announced at a news conference that FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will be in the Asheville area for the foreseeable future. He said he, too, plans to travel to North Carolina on Wednesday.

There was criticism that Congress left town on Wednesday after passing a stopgap funding measure but not 12 bills needed to fund the federal government. Edwards noted how close Congress came to a government shutdown and where his district would be today if that happened. Congress plans to remain inactive until after the November elections.

On Monday, Biden said he was considering calling Congress back into session. Foxx, however, said Biden could do more without Congress, such as spending unused Covid-19 relief money on storm mitigation efforts.

Foxx stated she wanted more information from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office.

On Monday, she said only six National Guard members were on the scene in Avery County.

“We don’t have enough National Guard,” Foxx said. “Last night they sent 400 National Guard troops to 25 counties. It’s a very small number.”

She urged Cooper, a Democrat, to do more.

On Sunday, the North Carolina Air National Guard said more than 500 soldiers and airmen had been deployed. The United States National Guard reported that more than 5,500 troops were deployed from 11 states.

Edwards’ response was also frustrated.

“The people of this district are hurting and are truly disappointed in the response from the federal government and the state government,” Edwards said.

He said federal and state resources would be brought to the region starting Monday.

Baptists on Mission Among Work Helpers in Western North Carolina After the Destruction of Helene

Volunteering

But Edwards added that communities in western North Carolina are resilient.

One of his businesses was destroyed in the storm and will take months to get back up and running, but he said it’s nothing compared to what some of his neighbors are dealing with, with homes and businesses lost forever.

“I definitely see the community coming together,” Edwards said. “The mountain people are proud and resilient. Our law enforcement and first responders are working together to work together. More and more neighbors are helping each other, checking on neighbors, making sure they have the basic things they need, cutting trees out of the road so neighbors’ cars can pass.”

That lifted Edwards’ spirits, despite his frustration with state and federal leaders.

Next on Foxx’s agenda was to go to Samaritan’s Purse, a Boone-based humanitarian aid organization. Volunteers from all over the country came there to help with the relief effort, and she wanted to thank them for their work.

“We are very grateful to Samaritans’ Purse,” Foxx said. “It is one of the most effective humanitarian organizations in the world, perhaps the most effective. When Samaritan’s Purse hits the ground, we will all feel better.”

Foxx said people wanting to come to western North Carolina to help should find an organization they can volunteer with, such as Samaritan’s Purse. She cautioned that people should not try to help on their own.

“We don’t need people to go out on their own and try to help because they don’t know the situation here and it’s really dangerous to do that,” Foxx said. “Roads are still collapsing everywhere, so it would be better if they operated through a recognized organization.”

She suggested contacting the local emergency management agency where the person wanting to volunteer lives and asking the district what’s needed.

She urged people who want to help to donate to a reputable organization and call their legislators or members of Congress to encourage the White House and Cooper’s office to take any necessary action.