The Free

Disaster Compassion is Real in North Carolina

or: yes, we really do keep us safe.

by Margaret Killjoy on Oct 04, 2024 at Birds Before the Storm https://margaretkilljoy.substack.com / thefreeonline /https://wp.me/pIJl9-EhS on T’gram: https://t.me/thefreeonline

Final Straw: Mutual Aid Groups Mobilize in Face of Asheville Water …

A massive rainstorm hit Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding areas, dumping eight inches of rain in a single day. Then, the next day, Hurricane Helene hit. This was the worst hurricane to hit the city in its recorded history.

Hurricane Helene at Firestorm Books We’re four days into the most significant natural disaster in the recorded history of our region. Our community is experiencing an ongoing crisis created by infrastructural collapse and the profound failure of capitalism to value and sustain life.

I’m writing this from my van in the parking lot between the anarchist bookstore and the punk bar, and all around, people are running around helping each other out. They’re gathering supplies, sorting out where they need to go, and getting them out. I spent most of yesterday and today driving things to and fro with my van, and I’ll be doing that more later I expect, but for now I’m sitting in the air conditioning with my overstimulated dog and catching up on work.

We have seen report after report, all saying the same thing.

At first, they decided not to help. Now they are blocking people from helping.

Criminal. pic.twitter.com/3lDy1WYvzu
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 4, 2024