He’s suddenly an expert.
President Joe Biden, major media organizations, and CBS News moderators have recently linked the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in the southeastern United States to climate change. In a briefing at the State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, Biden condemned climate change skeptics, stating that anyone denying the climate crisis must be “brain-dead.” The hurricane significantly impacted areas from the Florida panhandle to Appalachia, leaving communities, particularly Asheville, North Carolina, severely affected.
Hurricane Helene, which eventually downgraded to a tropical storm, brought unprecedented rainfall to the region, with some areas experiencing up to five months’ worth of rain within just three days. This deluge caused widespread flooding, obliterating towns like Chimney Rock and resulting in ongoing power outages and water shortages for many residents nearly a week after the storm passed. Biden underscored the importance of recognizing the effects of climate change, noting that rising ocean temperatures contribute to more powerful storms.
Media coverage has reinforced Biden’s statements, with several outlets attributing the hurricane’s destruction to man-made climate change. For instance, ABC News highlighted that the Asheville tragedy demonstrates there are no safe havens from climate impacts, while The Washington Post characterized Helene as showing “the fingerprints of climate change.” Experts like North Carolina’s state climatologist, Kathie Dello, have emphasized the far-reaching effects of climate change, noting that extreme weather events are occurring across diverse regions, making it increasingly difficult to find areas unaffected by such disasters.
During a recent vice presidential debate, CBS News moderators addressed the hurricane’s consequences, suggesting a connection to climate change and prompting candidates to discuss their plans to combat this issue. While Sen. J.D. Vance focused on the immediate needs of storm-affected communities, many residents in Asheville have turned to local churches for support, relying on community aid in the wake of the disaster. Volunteers at places like the First Baptist Church in Hendersonville have stepped up to provide essential supplies, illustrating the grassroots response to the ongoing crisis.
Overall, Hurricane Helene has sparked a broader conversation about climate change and its implications for extreme weather events in the United States. The recognition of this link by prominent figures and media outlets underscores the urgency of addressing climate-related challenges and providing support to affected communities as they recover from the storm’s aftermath.
