Vice President Kamala Harris recently visited North Carolina to assist in packing essential items for Hurricane Helene victims. Harris joined volunteers at a barbecue restaurant in Raleigh to help pack boxes of personal care products for those affected by the recent hurricane. Democrats are working hard to flip North Carolina in the upcoming presidential election, and Harris’s visit aimed to show support for the state’s residents. The vice president also attended a church service in Greenville as part of a campaign initiative to encourage voter turnout.
The trip marked Harris’s second visit to the battleground state following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. She had previously traveled to North Carolina to survey the damage caused by the hurricane and pledge federal assistance to the victims. Democrats are hopeful that North Carolina will swing in their favor this year, with support from Black, college-educated voters, and women who are concerned about the loss of abortion protections. However, the aftermath of the hurricane has become a political issue, with former President Trump and his allies criticizing the Biden administration’s response.
During her visit, Harris met with Black elected officials, faith leaders, and community members at The Pit BBQ. The vice president’s campaign did not release a list of the individuals she met with, but her focus was on engaging with the local community and discussing her economic plans. Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in late September, resulted in numerous fatalities and extensive damage to infrastructure in North Carolina. The state is still recovering from the hurricane, as well as the recent impact of Hurricane Milton in Florida.
Harris also visited Georgia following Hurricane Helene and has been monitoring the federal government’s response to the natural disasters. She has emphasized the importance of preventing price gouging by companies seeking to exploit shortages caused by the hurricanes. Harris has made this issue central to her campaign efforts, highlighting the need for consumer protections during times of crisis. Meanwhile, Trump and his supporters have spread misinformation about the government’s disaster relief efforts, falsely suggesting that aid went to immigrants instead of hurricane victims.
In response to Trump’s criticisms, President Joe Biden has denounced the falsehoods as “un-American” and urged his predecessor to focus on more pressing matters. The political debate over the hurricanes’ impact and the federal response has intensified as the election approaches. Harris’s visit to North Carolina and her continued campaign efforts in other states demonstrate her commitment to addressing both the immediate needs of hurricane victims and broader issues of economic recovery and consumer protection. As the race for the presidency heats up, the response to natural disasters and support for affected communities remain key issues for voters to consider.
