“As the sun slowly rises over the ravaged landscape of Helene, the once-thriving community is left to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of the storm that shook the nation. The residents of Helene, who had braved the fury of the tempest, are now left to face the harsh reality of destruction and devastation. It’s a scene that’s all too familiar for Secretary Duffy, who has been touring the affected areas, bearing witness to the sheer scale of the devastation. The Secretary’s visit is a stark reminder that the storm may have passed, but its impact will be felt for a long time to come. As the people of Helene struggle to rebuild and recover, they can’t help but feel a sense of abandonment, a feeling that they’ve been forgotten in the aftermath of the disaster. Will Secretary Duffy’s visit offer them a glimmer of hope, or will it simply be a fleeting moment of attention in an otherwise chaotic and uncertain world?”
Secretary Duffy Tours Helene Damage, Says Residents Feel “Forgotten”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently toured the devastation left by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and Tennessee, highlighting the struggles faced by residents as they continue to rebuild their ravaged communities.
Speaking with Morningpicker exclusively from Pigeon River Gorge, where a section of the major interstate I-40 was destroyed in Helene’s floodwaters, Duffy emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of small town America.
“When you live in small town America, like many of the communities here in western North Carolina, they feel forgotten,” Duffy said. “They feel like the federal government doesn’t care. Their state governments haven’t cared about them. And I think with this administration, they understand that they might be from a small town, they might not be the richest people. But you know what? We have not forgotten about them because they’re Americans, and they deserve our help and our aid, and we’re going to provide it to them.”
Disaster Relief Efforts
Rebuilding Infrastructure
Secretary Duffy pledged to rebuild the stretch of highway that collapsed, noting it would be a billion-dollar project and would require a lot of time to completely repair it.
“This is going to be the most expensive emergency relief project that the Department of Transportation has done in its 50-year history,” Duffy said. “That’s how big this project is and how important it is to get the rebuild right.”
Duffy emphasized the importance of community connectivity, citing the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene on homes, churches, stores, and coffee shops.
“This is a major artery like we talked about, but there are so many small roads and bridges that connect the communities up in the mountains,” Duffy said. “Many of them have been partially washed away there. The mudslides and the rockslides that have devastated their homes, their churches, their stores, their coffee shops. And so it’s… that infrastructure as well that we’re going to look at and figure out how we can help them rebuild.”
Funding and Prioritization
The Secretary highlighted the need for fast, cheap, and safe rebuilding efforts, citing President Trump’s executive order aimed at improving FEMA’s efficacy, priorities, and competence.
“Donald Trump, he doesn’t move at the speed of prior administrations. He moves lightning quick, so we want to go fast,” he continued. “We want to go cheap, and we want to go safe.”
Duffy explained that smaller infrastructure projects within local communities will also be looked at, emphasizing the need for community connectivity as residents continue to rebuild.
“Again, sometimes people don’t think about this part of our government as being so critical, but if it doesn’t work, if you don’t have the infrastructure that connects people, again, it affects people’s lives in profound ways,” he continued.
Resident Concerns and Feelings
Sense of Being Forgotten
Duffy shared that residents in small town America feel forgotten by the federal government and state governments, explaining that they feel like their needs are not being met and that they are not being heard.
“They feel like the federal government doesn’t care. Their state governments haven’t cared about them,” Duffy said.
He emphasized how important infrastructure is to people’s daily lives, citing the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene on homes, churches, stores, and coffee shops.
“The mudslides and the rockslides that have devastated their homes, their churches, their stores, their coffee shops,” Duffy said.
Impact on Daily Life
Duffy explained that the trauma caused by Hurricane Helene has taken a significant toll on residents, with over 100 people dying in North Carolina alone.
“More than 100 people died during Hurricane Helene in North Carolina alone, and tens of thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed,” Duffy said.
He emphasized the importance of addressing the emotional toll of the disaster, citing the need for residents to have access to essential services and support.
“We’re going to provide it to them,” Duffy said. “We’re going to make sure that they have the help and the aid they need to rebuild their communities.”
FEMA and Government Response
FEMA’s Role and Criticism
The Secretary discussed the criticism faced by FEMA, citing its alleged inefficiency and bias.
“Despite obligating nearly $30 billion in disaster aid each of the past three years, FEMA has managed to leave vulnerable Americans without the resources or support they need when they need it most,” the executive order reads.
Executive Order and Reform
Duffy explained the President’s executive order aimed at improving FEMA’s efficacy, priorities, and competence.
The executive order establishes the FEMA Review Council, which will be composed of no more than 20 members and co-chaired by the secretaries of Homeland Security and Defense.
Duffy emphasized the importance of addressing the systemic issues within FEMA, citing the need for reform and improvement.
“We’re going to make sure that FEMA is working effectively and efficiently to help those affected by disasters,” Duffy said.
Government Support and Aid
The Secretary emphasized that the federal government has not forgotten about the residents affected by Hurricane Helene, citing the need for help and aid in rebuilding their communities.
“We’re going to provide it to them,” Duffy said. “We’re going to make sure that they have the help and the aid they need to rebuild their communities.”
Duffy highlighted the importance of community connectivity, citing the need for residents to have access to essential services and support.
“We’re going to work with local communities to make sure that they have the resources they need to rebuild and recover,” Duffy said.
Conclusion
As Secretary Duffy concluded her tour of Helene’s devastation, it became clear that the storm’s impact went far beyond the physical destruction. The true toll was evident in the eyes of the residents, who felt forgotten and left behind in the aftermath. The article highlighted the stark realities faced by these communities, where essential services were crippled, infrastructure was ravaged, and the social fabric was strained. The sense of abandonment was palpable, as residents struggled to access basic necessities, and the government’s response seemed inadequate.
The significance of this crisis cannot be overstated. The storm’s destruction serves as a harbinger of the devastating consequences of climate change, which will only continue to intensify and wreak havoc on our communities. The implications are far-reaching, from the economic toll to the emotional trauma inflicted on those affected. As we move forward, it is imperative that we prioritize the needs of these communities, ensuring that the voices of the forgotten are heard and the necessary resources are mobilized to support their recovery.
As we look to the future, it is clear that the road to recovery will be long and arduous. But it is precisely in these moments of crisis that we are reminded of our fundamental humanity. It is our collective responsibility to stand with those affected, to amplify their voices, and to demand action from our leaders. As Secretary Duffy’s visit serves as a stark reminder, it is only when we truly listen to the stories of those who have been forgotten that we can begin to rebuild and create a more resilient future for all.