NCGOP chair tours hard-hit western counties
Jason Simmons was elected chair of the NCGOP in March.
NCGOP photo
As Western North Carolina recovers from one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the state, residents alongside local leaders have been working to rebuild their communities just ahead of one of the most consequential elections in American history. Jason Simmons, chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, recently toured hard-hit communities in the region on a visit that was part political, part personal.
“Given the devastation and impact, we've all been greatly concerned, especially in the immediate aftermath of the storm where the lack of ability to communicate with folks not so much for an election, but just for the welfare of your friends, the people that you've been working with for so long, you don't know how they're doing, you can't get in touch with them,” Simmons told The Smoky Mountain News last week. “I was very grateful to be able to visit with so many of our leaders and good people across these counties in Western North Carolina.”
On Oct. 15 and 16, Simmons visited Avery, Buncombe, Henderson, Yancey, and Rutherford counties, noting the different challenges faced by each community as they work to recover. Despite the destruction, the resiliency of the people in the west has been remarkable, Simmons said.
Local businesses have transformed into aid stations, with private citizens and faith-based organizations stepping up to provide essential supplies and shelter. One such instance, Simmons said, left him particularly moved — a couple in Avery County who converted their gas station into a relief center.
“Despite just the overwhelming and devastating impacts of the hurricane, you are seeing the best of humanity and people caring and loving and looking after one another," said Simmons, a former combat medic and mental health specialist in the Army reserves.
Simmons’ visit came just hours before the state’s early voting operations for the 2024 General Election commenced. He lauded local elections boards for working through adversity to carry out plans to ensure everyone who wants to vote is able to do so.
Related Items
Gov. Cooper goes to D.C. after General Assembly fails to deliver on storm relief
Trump’s election tells us a lot
Sound the siren: Spotlight shines on Canton mayor, staff at Hurricanes game
Cooper taps Wijewickrama for superior court seat
“When each of these counties were able to present plans for early voting to open and to be able to start on time, that was great news,” he said. “Being able to then communicate these plans out to the voters of North Carolina, what we saw was a credit to everybody involved in standing up these operations, especially while they're in many cases dealing with their own personal loss or tragedy. So we're very complimentary and applaud the local boards of elections for everything that they've done.”
Simmons criticized the initial state and federal response, which he called “lackluster” and “underwhelming,” but his remarks were far more moderate than lies promulgated by former President Donald Trump and North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore at an Asheville event on Oct. 21. Moore’s lies, which are easily debunked, included that he had “not gotten a single call from the White House” about the response to Hurricane Helene. Call logs and emails from the White House show otherwise.
Emphasizing the need for continued support from higher levels of government to aid in long-term recovery, Simmons reiterated his annoyance with the initial response but acknowledged the long road ahead.
“The loss that is going to be felt is going to need federal and state assistance to be able to help recover the price tag that we're all seeing on the estimated cost thus far,” Simmons said. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper estimated the total damage at $53 billion. “You are going to need significant assistance from the federal government for it.”
The North Carolina General Assembly was set to take up a wide-ranging storm relief bill on Oct. 24, supplementing one passed Oct. 9.
