The email announcement stated: “Please do NOT travel to western NC to deliver donations, volunteer spontaneously, bring home cooked meals, or view the devastation.” It was sent by Cheryl Parquet, a “diversity engagement” professional who works for Blue Cross NC.
It went on to say that “the best way to support right now is through monetary donations. All volunteers should work directly with VolunteerNC and the Red Cross Disaster Action Team.” Both of these groups are government entities under the control of the state's liberal leadership.
However, they acknowledged in the letter that this approach would be a slow one, noting: “Although these donations will take 4-6 weeks to be fully processed, they are still a great way to contribute, as nonprofits will need funding for the long-term relief and recovery efforts.”
National File noted that Blue Cross Blue Shield recently announced a donation of $2.5 million for hurricane relief, which may sound like a lot until you realize that it amounts to around $1 for each person living in western North Carolina. The fact that Blue Cross Blue Shield NC brought in nearly $570 million in net revenue during the pandemic really helps put it in perspective and illustrates just how little help those in need are actually receiving. Meanwhile, Blue Cross NC President and CEO Tunde Sotunde earns total compensation of more than $5 million per year.
Another email from Blue Cross – this one sent by Sotunde – stated: “We are following the Governor’s Office’s coordination in a statewide response.” The state’s governor, Democrat Roy Cooper, has been heavily criticized for his slow response to the disaster.
Helene made landfall on September 26, but it wasn’t until October 10 that Cooper signed the state’s first relief package into law, earmarking $273 million for immediate needs while providing flexibility for agencies and displaced residents.
The death toll from the storm is at least 230, 91 of which were recorded in North Carolina. The western portion of the state sustained serious damage, with numerous mudslides, destroyed homes and severe flooding. Collapsed roads have made it difficult to send food, water and other emergency supplies to people affected by the hurricane, and they are also complicating search and rescue efforts.
North Carolina residents accuse government of failing to prepare properly for the storm
Many North Carolina residents do not have water or are under boil water advisories, while tens of thousands remain without power in the mountainous areas of the state.
Numerous residents complained in the days following the hurricane that the government failed to prepare properly.
One business owner, Sara Legatski, told NBC News: “There should have been a more urgent call for people to be prepared. Were they stationing water off the mountain ready to be trucked up here, knowing how fragile our water system is? None of this is a surprise. Anyone acting like this is a surprise has not been here long enough and is not from the mountains and does not understand how water works.”
In a press conference, the manager of Buncombe County, which includes hard-hit Asheville, shared her frustration over the slow response they were getting to requests for life-saving supplies.
“There’s a large need in our community, and we would like to see a different response from our state partners, a better response from our state partners,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards complained that state emergency officials were unable to explain where 400 pallets of water and food sent by FEMA for hurricane relief ended up.
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