(NewsNation) — Western North Carolina is one of the areas hit hardest by the remnants of Hurricane Helen. Asheville and surrounding towns in the Blue Ridge Mountains experienced record flooding.
As a result of the storm, area residents lost power, water and cell service, and hundreds of roads were damaged, effectively cutting Asheville off from the rest of the world.
Reporter Bob Buckley of NewsNation affiliate WGHP says Helene’s influence in North Carolina could have a “huge” impact on the election.
“Early voting is scheduled to start in two weeks. I don’t think that’s going to happen in most counties in the mountains,” Buckley said in a Swing State Spotlight segment on NewsNation’s “The Hill.”
“Trump won by more than 90,000 votes in the 14 (most affected) counties in 2020. But he won statewide by 75,000 votes. So winning over all those voters who have moved now will be a tough sell for Republicans this November. “It’s going to be huge.” Buckley added.
North Carolina election officials say they will do everything they can to ensure voters in a crucial presidential battleground state can cast their ballots despite the devastation of Hurricane Helen and the destruction of basic infrastructure about a month before the November election.
Helen, which struck large swaths of the Southeast late last week with heavy rain, strong winds and a massive storm surge off the Gulf Coast, caused “unbelievable” destruction in western North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper said at a press briefing Tuesday.
“This disaster is unlike any disaster our state has ever experienced,” he said.
The level of destruction can have far-reaching effects beyond the immediate damage to flooded communities, especially if it affects voting.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
