FAIRVIEW, N.C. — Vice President-elect JD Vance visited western North Carolina on Friday, offering reassurance to residents still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. During one of his initial public engagements since the election, Vance surveyed the extensive storm damage and engaged with first responders, emphasizing that the community has not been forgotten as they head into the holiday season.
Vance expressed his support, stating, “My simple message to the people of Appalachia is that we haven’t forgotten you — we love you.” He is well-known for documenting the region’s challenges in his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” Vance also highlighted the coming change in administration, pledging that efforts would be made to support the recovery: “We’re going to do everything that we can to help people rebuild, to get them back on their feet, to bring some commerce back to this area, but, most importantly, to allow people to live in their homes.”
The hurricane, which hit in late September, has left a massive toll in North Carolina, with state estimates showing damages exceeding $53 billion and a dire need for improved infrastructure to mitigate future disasters. Tragically, over 100 residents lost their lives, and more than 120,000 homes were damaged. Additionally, the storm affected at least 6,000 miles of roads and disrupted over 160 sewer and water systems.
Vance and his wife, Usha, visited the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department, where they learned about the extensive flooding the facility faced, along with the health issues some first responders encountered. Reports confirmed up to 6 inches of water inundated the firefighting building, and several responders contracted walking pneumonia while handling the emergency situation. Power outages hindered communication, leaving responders and their families unable to connect for days after the hurricane. The community mourned the loss of at least one firefighter during rescue operations.
The Vice President-elect also visited a house undergoing reconstruction by Samaritan’s Purse, a charitable organization headed by Franklin Graham, known for his close ties to past U.S. presidents. Vance conveyed hope to the residents, stating, “We want you to have the best Christmas as you possibly can have, despite the circumstances,” during his remarks to reporters.
In Buncombe County, Vance’s visit was notable as over 60% of voters supported Vice President Kamala Harris in the recent presidential election. The county, particularly Asheville, is recognized for its vibrant arts community and attractions like the Biltmore Estate, both of which sustained significant damages from the hurricane. In contrast, President-elect Donald Trump generally received more approval from voters impacted by the storm, despite widespread criticism of the Biden administration’s disaster response, which Biden described as “un-American” misinformation.
According to AP VoteCast, approximately 26% of North Carolina voters reported the hurricane negatively impacted their lives, with damages to homes and prolonged power outages among the top concerns. Notably, Trump garnered about 53% of this group’s votes.
Since the November 5 election, Vance has remained mostly out of public sight, aside from assisting Trump’s Cabinet nominees during their Senate transitions. He stood by nominee Pete Hegseth after critique surrounding allegations of misconduct, arguing that he deserved an appropriate confirmation hearing rather than a public denouncement. Vance also indicated uncertainty regarding his role in facilitating Kash Patel’s Senate introduction as the prospective FBI director next week.
In response to the disaster, North Carolina legislators have released over $900 million in relief funds, while Governor Roy Cooper has advocated for a minimum of $3.9 billion to assist recovery efforts. State leaders have sought an additional $25 billion in federal assistance. Although significant progress has been made, with many roads reopening and water systems restored, recovery remains a complex and time-consuming task. Just weeks ago, over 100,000 residents were advised that Asheville’s water supply was safe for use once again. However, reconstruction efforts for some severely damaged water facilities could span several years.
Criticism of the recovery operation has emerged from various residents and Republican lawmakers, particularly related to housing solutions for those displaced as winter approaches. Some of Governor Cooper’s allies have also expressed discontent over the lack of support for small businesses at risk of closure and potential evictions for renters in distress.
