Hurricane Helene has unleashed unprecedented destruction across the southeastern U.S., wreaking havoc in critical swing states like North Carolina and Georgia just weeks before the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The storm, described as a once-in-a-century event, has resulted in widespread devastation, leaving nearly 100 people dead and over 600 missing. The catastrophic impact has not only claimed lives and ruined homes but has also disrupted essential infrastructure, including power lines, roads, communications, and even polling stations, casting uncertainty over the upcoming election.
Hundreds of Canadian workers have joined a massive relief effort alongside thousands of U.S. workers and military personnel to restore power and rebuild essential services in the hardest-hit areas. Among them are more than 700 Canadian line workers who were dispatched to the region even before the storm made landfall. They are now working under challenging conditions, rebuilding power distribution lines and struggling to access fuel and basic amenities as many gas stations and stores remain closed or severely damaged.
Election Campaign Paralyzed in Key States
Hurricane Helene struck a devastating blow to North Carolina and Georgia, both pivotal swing states in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Campaigning in these regions has come to an abrupt halt as candidates and election officials focus on recovery efforts. Election infrastructure in several counties has been severely impacted, with damaged polling stations, displaced residents, and uncertainty over mail-in ballots contributing to a logistical nightmare for election officials.
North Carolina, which is experiencing its worst flooding in over a century, is particularly hard-hit. With 4.6 million people initially losing power, efforts are underway to restore basic services, but election officials warn that the damage to roads and polling locations could take days or even weeks to assess. The state elections board is now considering emergency measures to merge polling sites, create temporary voting locations in trailers or tents, and establish protocols for displaced voters to cast their ballots.
Voters who have already submitted absentee ballots may need to verify the status of their votes, as many ballots were lost or damaged in the storm. With election day approaching, the state faces mounting pressure to ensure that citizens can exercise their right to vote despite the extensive damage caused by the hurricane.
Political Fallout: Biden vs. Trump Amid Disaster Response
The hurricane has added a new layer of complexity to an already contentious presidential election. Both candidates have been forced to shift their focus from campaigning to disaster relief. Former president Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, visited the disaster zone in Georgia, where he promoted humanitarian efforts and criticized President Joe Biden’s response, accusing the administration of reacting too slowly to the crisis. Trump even made a baseless claim that governors in the affected states were unable to reach President Biden, despite those same governors publicly acknowledging their direct communication with the White House.
Biden, visibly frustrated by Trump’s comments, responded angrily, calling the accusation a lie. The president emphasized that federal disaster relief efforts were in full swing, with thousands of workers on the ground in the affected states and disaster management payments being approved for those impacted by the storm. Biden is scheduled to visit North Carolina to assess the damage and meet with state officials, who have been coordinating relief efforts with federal agencies.
While the disaster has forced a temporary pause in on-the-ground campaigning, partisanship remains alive on national media outlets, with both sides using the crisis as an opportunity to highlight their leadership credentials. Trump’s criticism of Biden’s handling of the hurricane has energized his base, while Biden’s focus on recovery and resilience is aimed at reassuring voters that his administration is effectively managing the crisis.
Canadian Crews Aid in Recovery
Among the tens of thousands of workers from across the U.S. aiding in recovery efforts, hundreds of Canadian line workers from Atlantic Canada have been deployed to assist in restoring power. Companies like Holland Power Services and Gagnon Line Construction, both based in New Brunswick, began sending crews to staging areas in the Carolinas even before the hurricane hit. These workers are living in difficult conditions, often staying in crowded trailers or powerless hotels, with limited access to running water or basic amenities. Despite the challenges, the Canadian crews are focused on the task at hand—rebuilding the infrastructure needed to restore power to millions of residents.
Fuel shortages have complicated their efforts, with long lines forming at the few gas stations that remain open, further congesting already jammed highways. Yet, despite the logistical challenges, power restoration efforts are making progress. More than half of those who lost power have seen it restored, and cell service is slowly returning to the region.
The flooding in North Carolina, however, poses an ongoing challenge. Much of the state has been inundated with months’ worth of rain in just a few days, making it difficult for crews to reach the areas most in need of assistance. Jim Salmon, vice president of Holland Power Services, noted that while wind damage was not as severe as expected, the extensive flooding has made resupplying crews with food, fuel, and communication tools a monumental task.
A Complex Election Recovery Effort
The focus now shifts to how election officials will manage the upcoming vote in areas devastated by the storm. In North Carolina, election offices remain closed, and some officials have been personally impacted by the hurricane, with many losing their homes or still without power, water, or internet access. One official reportedly walked five miles to get to work after the storm. The state elections board has postponed meetings and is working to determine how to safely conduct the election under such dire conditions.
There are growing concerns about the status of absentee ballots, many of which may have been lost in the chaos. Voters are being encouraged to check registries to confirm whether their ballots were received, and officials are preparing for the possibility that displaced residents may need to vote from their new locations. However, the deadline to register for mail-in voting is fast approaching, adding further pressure to an already overwhelmed system.
Uncertain Future for the Election
The timing and scale of Hurricane Helene’s destruction have created unprecedented challenges for the U.S. presidential election. In western North Carolina, around Asheville, the damage is so extensive that traditional campaigning may be impossible in the coming weeks. Residents like Susan Thomas, a volunteer for the Democrats, are struggling to return to normalcy, with many still without internet, power, or reliable phone service. Thomas, who narrowly avoided disaster while driving through blocked roads and downed trees, describes the situation as “post-apocalyptic,” with little hope for canvassing or traditional election outreach in the near future.
As the region grapples with the immediate aftermath of the storm, questions remain about how—or even if—voters will be able to cast their ballots on time. Election officials are working around the clock to restore some semblance of order, but the sheer scale of the damage means that recovery could take weeks, if not longer. With the clock ticking toward election day, the country faces the daunting challenge of ensuring a fair and accessible vote in the midst of one of the worst natural disasters in recent memory.
Hurricane Helene has not only devastated the southeastern U.S. but has also upended the political landscape, casting a shadow over an election that is already mired in controversy. Whether or not voting infrastructure can be restored in time remains to be seen, but for now, the priority is recovery—and the storm’s aftermath will undoubtedly shape the final weeks of the 2024 presidential race.
