Quick Hit:

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, reports detail how overwhelmed morgues and a lack of state and federal response have left many North Carolinians with no choice but to bury their loved ones in their own yards. Local sources describe a grim scene of death and devastation, as private citizens take charge of recovery efforts while state and federal responses lag behind.

Key Details:

• Hurricane Helene’s official death toll is 227 across six states, with North Carolina accounting for nearly half. Local sources tell The Spectator that the true toll could be much higher.

• Those same sources say that overwhelmed morgues and delayed government responses have forced some North Carolinians to bury their deceased family members in their own yards.

• Anger grows as many accuse state and federal authorities of negligence, while private citizens lead rescue and recovery efforts on their own.

Diving Deeper:

Hurricane Helene has left a devastating mark on North Carolina, with residents facing a dire situation where overwhelmed morgues and an uncoordinated state response have driven some to bury their own family members in their yards. According to a report from The Spectator, local sources are painting a picture of chaos and mounting tragedy, as the real extent of the storm’s impact is still coming to light.

The official death toll from the storm is reported at 227 across six states, with over half of the fatalities occurring in North Carolina. However, sources on the ground told The Spectator that the actual death toll could be significantly higher, as many bodies remain unaccounted for. A North Carolina state official revealed that bodies are being transported across the state to find space in overwhelmed morgues, with some being sent as far as Greensboro. The situation has grown so desperate that residents are left with no other choice but to bury their loved ones in their backyards.

“People are starting to bury them in their yards because they have no place to put them,” the official said. The slow response from state and federal officials has only fueled anger and frustration, with many accusing the government of abandoning them. According to the report, private citizens have stepped in to handle much of the rescue and recovery efforts, as the state’s response has been largely ineffective.

General Major Todd Hunt, the director of the North Carolina National Guard, has come under fire for not deploying more local forces to assist in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Of the 5,500 National Guardsmen deployed, only 500 were from North Carolina, forcing neighboring states like Florida to send additional units. Local volunteers have taken matters into their own hands, but have faced obstacles from officials reportedly attempting to shut down their efforts.

The slow state response has also drawn attention to Governor Roy Cooper and the Biden administration. President Joe Biden, criticized for staying at his beach house during the height of the storm, only returned to Washington on Sunday. Vice President Kamala Harris, after attending campaign events in Las Vegas, also faced criticism for not returning sooner. Both officials have attempted to defend their actions, but for many residents, their explanations fall short of addressing the magnitude of the disaster.

As the recovery process continues, many are beginning to compare Hurricane Helene to the infamous disaster of Hurricane Katrina. While Katrina’s death toll was over 1,800, some officials speculate that Helene’s final death count could be even higher. In the meantime, North Carolinians are left to cope with the horrific task of burying their loved ones, a situation exacerbated by what many view as gross negligence from their leaders.

With private citizens forced to fill the gaps left by an overwhelmed government, North Carolinians are unlikely to forget the failures they endured during this time of crisis. The response—or lack thereof—from state and federal officials will leave a lasting mark on the devastated communities trying to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Helene.