Hurricane Helene has left many stunned, not just because of the immense destruction it caused, but because of the unexpected devastation in regions far from the coast. Western North Carolina, in particular, has been hit hard, with mountainous terrain and swollen rivers leading to catastrophic flooding and tragic loss of life.
Communities that never imagined they’d be in the path of such destruction are now grappling with recovery efforts and facing an uncertain future. The scale of the damage inland rivals what you’d expect from a direct coastal hit, making the situation even more shocking.
Now, you’d think that the leaders in these areas would be doing everything in their power to assist their constituents, right? Enter Kathy Manning, the representative for North Carolina’s 6th Congressional district, which includes Greensboro and Winston-Salem. These cities were impacted by the storm, and they’re not far from the hardest-hit areas in the western part of the state. But instead of focusing on relief efforts and helping people recover, Ms. Manning seems to have her priorities… elsewhere.
While her district is grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Manning was busy hosting a campaign event on Sunday. Yes, you read that right. While North Carolinians were dealing with flooded homes and ruined livelihoods, Manning was hanging out with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who made a pit stop in Greensboro to promote Josh Stein’s campaign for governor. Nothing says “I care about my constituents” like throwing a political party in the middle of a disaster.
There’s no joshin’ around in #NC06 when it comes to protecting democracy.
Thanks to @JoshShapiroPA for coming to Greensboro to join me in supporting @JoshStein_ and Democrats up and down the ticket 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ZJmaDhMo52
— Kathy Manning (@KathyManningNC) September 29, 2024
To top it all off, Manning proudly posted about the event on social media, showing absolutely no awareness of the situation unfolding in her state. It was only after several hours—and likely after a few angry calls from her staff—that she finally posted something acknowledging the storm and the devastation it’s caused. But by that point, the damage was already done (and no, I’m not talking about the hurricane). Her timing couldn’t have been worse, and her priorities couldn’t have been more out of touch.
I am deeply concerned by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina and heartbroken by the tragic loss of life.
My thoughts are with everyone impacted during this difficult time. (1/3)
— Congresswoman Kathy Manning (@RepKManning) September 30, 2024
Meanwhile, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, fresh off the heels of search and rescue missions in our own state, has already redirected teams to help with recovery efforts in North Carolina and Tennessee. That’s what real leadership looks like—taking action and helping people when they need it most, not staging political rallies.
With Florida’s recovery effort running on all cylinders (search & rescue nearly complete, 2M+ power restored, 12,300 mi of roadways cleared) @GovRonDeSantis is sending extra assets to North Carolina and Tennessee to help them in the wake of Hurricane Helene. pic.twitter.com/ZMHLDx8fAr
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) September 29, 2024
And what about Marc Robinson, the Republican Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina and current candidate for governor? Well, while Manning was busy campaigning and collecting likes on social media, Robinson was actually on the ground, surveying the damage and working with relief teams in the western part of the state. Sure, he’s got his own political battles and scandals, but at least he’s showing up when it counts.
But hey, don’t worry—after a day of promoting political events, Kathy Manning did manage to tweet something about the storm. Because nothing says leadership quite like a last-minute social media post, right?
