In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction, a group of coal miners from West Virginia, known as the “West Virginia Boys,” took matters into their own hands by rebuilding a damaged highway in North Carolina. The 2.7-mile section of Highway 64 was completed in just three days, giving the suffering Chimney Rock residents access to their homes much sooner than expected.
Robin Phillips, a local resident, expressed her gratitude. “I haven’t been home since the hurricane, but thanks to their quick work, I can go back soon,” she said. Phillips and her husband, who own a campground in the area, have been unable to check on their property since the disaster.
The Biden-Harris administration has come under fire for its slow response to the crisis. FEMA and the DOT inspected the site but did not intervene while the miners worked without government approval. Volunteer Logan Campbell praised the miners’ determination. “While the government delayed, these guys showed up and got it done,” he said.
Dan Lewis, a volunteer who traveled from Oklahoma, criticized the administration’s lack of urgency. “Different road crews came in saying it wasn’t doable. The DOT and Army Corps talked about surveys, but the miners had it finished before any official help arrived,” Lewis stated.
Despite the federal government’s promises of aid, residents like Curtis McCart are still waiting for assistance. FEMA only recently set up a station at the local fire department, weeks after the hurricane hit. “They should have been here sooner,” McCart noted. “We were promised help, and it’s not enough.”
The quick work by the “West Virginia Boys” has not only restored access but also restored hope, as the small community recovers from the storm while waiting for more substantial aid from federal authorities.