Here in the South, we have only just started on what will be a long and challenging recovery process in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene .
This powerful storm catastrophically flooded many communities in the southern Appalachians, leaving them under water and forever changed. But as we rebuild, we must also confront an underlying reality: Many of the communities in this region have long faced limited access to health care services. This reality will only be further magnified in the months and years to come.
The Appalachians are a cornerstone of global biodiversity and conservation efforts, contain the most visited National Park in the U.S., and are the proud home of many Americans. But in the mountainous regions of East Tennessee, Southern Virginia, and Western North Carolina, dealing with a hurricane of this magnitude is not only unprecedented – it’s alarming.
Hurricane created more challenges for an area with poor health outcomes
Hurricane Helene is the third deadliest hurricane of the 21st century after Katrina (2005) and Maria (2017). These types of storms, unfortunately, are only getting more frequent and more intense. And they disproportionately impact our most vulnerable communities.