We are stunned by the devastation left by Hurricane Helene. Particularly, the damage left in western North Carolina, which defies explanation. 

Roads, houses, businesses have been demolished, leaving areas unrecognizable. Emergency Services Assistant Director Ryan Cole told the Citizen-Times in Asheville that “catastrophic devastation” didn’t describe the hurricane’s impact.

“I would go a little bit further and say we have biblical devastation through the county,” Cole said. “We’ve had biblical flooding here and it has been extremely significant.”

This was an area that was once thought to be immune from the effects of climate change. The death toll, spread across six states, stood at 128 earlier this week. Fifty-six of those deaths were in North Carolina.

As the cleanup begins, so does the chance to rebuild — not only homes and businesses, but an understanding of our relationship with the environment. Things have changed. It’s time to reconsider our infrastructure and prepare for a future where such events may become more frequent – and closer to home.