After Hurricane Helene devastated parts of North Carolina, West Virginia, coal miners rebuilt Highway 64, allowing residents of Chimney Rock to return home. Known as the “West Virginia Boys,” the miners completed the 2.7-mile stretch in just three days, offering hope to those affected.
Robin Phillips, a local resident, shared her relief. “I haven’t been home since the storm, but thanks to their hard work, I’ll be able to return,” she said. Phillips, who also runs a local campground, is eager to assess her business after weeks away.
Despite the miners’ swift action, many criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s response. FEMA and the DOT visited but did not take control of the project. Logan Campbell, a volunteer, explained that the miners acted while federal agencies delayed. “The government just kept talking, but these men got the work done,” he said.
Dan Lewis, another volunteer from Oklahoma, noted that despite promises from federal agencies, the miners finished the job without any official help. “The DOT said they’d send engineers, but by the time they arrived, the road was done,” he stated.
Locals, like Bat Cave’s Curtis McCart, voiced frustration with the slow federal response. FEMA recently arrived, but many residents have yet to receive assistance. “We were promised help, and it hasn’t come,” McCart shared.
The efforts of the “West Virginia Boys” demonstrate that sometimes, community action gets results faster than government aid, offering a sense of unity and hope to those impacted by the disaster.
