Volunteers Rescuing NC Helene Victims Ask Where Federal Government Is: ‘No Support, No Leadership’
Volunteers on the ground in North Carolina are criticizing the federal government for its response to Hurricane Helene, citing a lack of support and leadership. According to recent reports, volunteers have expressed frustration over the absence of clear guidance and resources from federal authorities.
Howard, a volunteer, stated, “There’s just a complete failure of weak leadership here in North Carolina, the federal government, and it takes mind-strong leadership in Florida to send us up here.” He added, “If it wasn’t for DeSantis sending the state guard special missions unit up here, this never even would have happened. But there’s just no support here. There’s no leadership.” Howard continued, “When we meet these locals on the ground, they’re asking, like, ‘You’re from the state guard?’ I’m like, ‘I am from Florida,’ and they’re like, ‘Where’s North Carolina?’ You know, they’re asking where their leadership is.”
Volunteers have also reported encountering bureaucratic hurdles, with officials asking for authorizations to be present in affected areas. This has led to delays in rescue operations and further exacerbated the situation. Despite these challenges, volunteers have been actively involved in rescue efforts, including saving a newborn baby who was in dire need of oxygen after the storm hit.
President Biden has pledged to provide significant resources to aid in the recovery efforts, acknowledging the immense cost – estimated to be in the billions of dollars. However, critics argue that his actions have not been enough to help those struggling without food, power, and water one week after the storm made landfall. Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., has also slammed the Biden administration for the Helene response, citing a pattern of abandonment under Biden and Harris.
