The U.S. congressman representing one of many areas hit hardest by Helene is elevating considerations concerning the lethal storm’s influence on voter entry within the area.
Edwards is urging his constituents to make plans now, sending out a press launch to residents of his district roughly three weeks earlier than Election Day, asking those that intend to vote to begin determining how they are going to achieve this.
“I’ll also follow up with folks in the area and make offers to help get transportation for those folks that feel like they might not have a normal life or a transportation style to make it to the polls,” Edwards mentioned.
POLITICAL STORM: ON TRUMP ‘ONSLAUGHT OF LIES,’ BIDEN URGES FORMER PRESIDENT TO ‘GET A LIFE MAN’
“I’m concerned. But I also have a lot of confidence with the folks in the area to help folks exercise that constitutional right. We just have to start thinking about it now. We can’t wait till the last minute, as too many times we’re accustomed to doing.”
Hurricane Helene tore by the Southeast two weeks in the past, leaving billions of {dollars} of destruction and greater than 230 folks useless throughout a number of states.
Edwards estimated his district alone has seen “about 100 deaths” however famous many had been nonetheless lacking.
“About 9,200 acres of western North Carolina was affected in 28 counties. About 6,000 of that is right here in my district,” he mentioned.
Along with the devastation to life and property, nonetheless, the storm may have doubtlessly extreme ramifications for the election. North Carolina and Georgia, two of the hardest-hit states, emerged as battlegrounds within the 2020 presidential race.
HURRICANE MILTON CARVES DEADLY PATH THROUGH FLORIDA, MILLIONS WITHOUT POWER
The city of Chimney Rock in Edwards’ district after flash flooding within the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Picture/Mike Stewart)
About 17% of North Carolina’s registered voters are within the counties designated as Helene catastrophe areas, based on Michael Bitzer, a professor of politics and historical past at Catawba School.
“Folks are still in the process of putting their lives together, desperately trying to get their power back on, trying to get in touch with their loved ones, trying to dig out from the debris and not really thinking that there’s an election coming up here in three weeks or so,” Edwards mentioned.
CATEGORY 3 MILTON BEARS DOWN ON FLORIDA
“So, what I’m encouraging everyone to do is to start thinking about that now, to request an absentee ballot if you don’t think you’re going to be able to get to a poll or to plan to vote early.”
The North Carolina state legislature is already shifting to mitigate doable points.
State lawmakers accredited $5 million in emergency funding for the State Board of Elections to cope with the storm’s results, and so they additionally expanded emergency measures put in place by the election board that permit counties to switch early voting days and areas.
On the federal degree, Edwards mentioned he would give the federal government’s response a “C-minus.”
“This storm was over about 10 a.m. on Friday, and it was into Tuesday before we saw the first boots on the ground from FEMA, before we saw the first helicopters with food and water,” he mentioned.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“It was maybe a 10-second clip going, ‘Attaboy. Keep up the good work. We’re thinking about you,’” Edwards mentioned.
