Communities hit by Hurricane Helene are struggling with inadequate help, particularly from the government. This has sparked talk on social media about where taxes is going and encouraged more scrutiny about the unequal treatment by government, at all levels, when it comes to national and local crises as compared to foreign or irrelevant issues.

It is not that there has been no help at all but the question is whether local government and Federal are prioritizing such a tragedy enough especially during tough economical times where rescue , emergency services and re-building will be likely be more economically strenuous than previous disasters. There is sentiment that the government of the United States seems more willing to spend billions on Ukraine and millions on giving illegal migrants resources and not enough on helping their own citizens. The sinking economy and unchecked high prices for gas, rent/mortgages and groceries has long shown this neglect of the people but Hurricane Helene has come to further highlight it.

Background, Overview & Damage:

Hurricane Helene landed on September 26, 2024 in Florida and took a course down the path of South Eastern States (Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North & South Carolina). It is considered a category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 140 m.p.h. (225 km/h) upon landing. ¹

An example of the destruction Helene has caused is the following:

• It knocked out power to some hospitals in southern Georgia, and authorities had to use chainsaws to clear debris and open up roads again.

• Atlanta received a record 11.12 inches (28.24 centimeters) of rain in 48 hours, the most the city has seen in a two-day period since record keeping began in 1878

• More than 3 million homes and businesses were without power in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas as of late Friday (September 27, 2024)²

• A mudslide in the Appalachian Mountains washed out part of an interstate highway at the North Carolina-Tennessee state line. Another slide hit homes in North Carolina and occupants had to wait more than four hours to be rescued.

• School districts and universities canceled classes. Florida airports & others where closed due to the storm. Bridges and causeways where damaged along the Gulf Coast.

• Residents and communities remain isolated, hundreds of thousands are without power, and spotty service has made communication difficult.

• Helene also swamped parts of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, flooding streets and toppling trees as it brushed past the resort city of Cancun last week. It also knocked out power to more than 200,000 homes and businesses in western Cuba.³

• So far according to NBC News & other major outlets, at least 223 people dies and many unaccounted for. ⁴ However this news is heavily challenged by different locals seeing the massive damage & claiming the numbers are worse and the real news is under reported:

Many who are not on any kind of government aid have been left to fend for themselves and the worst part is, allegedly, those trying to help others or even help themselves or speak out are being hindered and suppressed.

(Article from The Independent accessed October 5, 2024)

Many individuals on social media have spoken against FEMA⁵ and their failed response to the situation:

 and this is FEMA’s response:

(this news article was posted on October 4, 2024 & shows the typical media denial, blame shifting and politicking making things political & partisan instead of firmly responding to accusations or unrest with of evidence of their good actions)

Thoughts & Actions:

I like the scripture creator Kap Chatfield quoted in his video that we should remember Proverbs 28:27:

“Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,
 but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.”

I really believe that this disaster and others going forward will only be overcome with people helping each other, community uplifting each other & communities lifting up and helping other communities, the government is not our saviour. We need to help each other and donate to trusted organizations who are taking things hands on or churches/ shelters who are already working in these areas and we need spread the news that it’s worse than reported so more can help.

I have been praying for those affected and doing research on organizations to donate to, & I encourage others to do the same.

On Media Today

Speaking of the media, this is yet another case that shows how untrustworthy mainstream media has become, it has been said before but it deserves to be re-iterated:

They are absolutely corrupt and complicit with evil; they suppress the truth and promote lies, they gaslight, and accuse others of what they do. They hope that if they repeat their lies enough it will one day be on record as the truth. They are an echo chamber of deceit and while their average workers turn a blind eye to the lies for money, I believe the leaders of these networks don’t even care about money anymore (many major networks have recently lost money & viwership), no, they have an ideology and an agenda and they will be judged for it. Indeed they have already been judged because no educated, or wise person believes them or listens to them anymore.

Sources

1. CTV News (accessed October 5, 2024) ↩︎
2. According to https://poweroutage.us/ ↩︎
3. CTV News (accessed October 5, 2024) ↩︎
4. NBC News (accessed October 5, 2024) ↩︎
5.  FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) it’s mission is to support the citizens and act as first responders in national emergency situations in the USA. They aim to help people before, during and after disasters according to their own website (https://www.fema.gov/about) ↩︎