Volunteer Miners Rebuild Highway, Residents Say Federal Aid Arrives Too Late

Coal miners from West Virginia, known as the “West Virginia Boys,” have stepped in to restore Highway 64 in Chimney Rock, North Carolina, after Hurricane Helene devastated the area. The miners rebuilt the 2.7-mile stretch in just three days, allowing displaced residents to return home.

Robin Phillips, who fled during the storm, expressed gratitude for their efforts. “I haven’t been able to access my home since the hurricane, but the West Virginia boys brought the road back,” she said. Phillips and her husband, who operate a campground, will now be able to return to assess the damage.

While the miners’ work was swift, many residents are unhappy with the Biden-Harris administration’s delayed response. Federal agencies like FEMA and the DOT visited but did not take over the project. Logan Campbell, a volunteer from Mississippi, said that while agencies talked about long-term plans, the miners completed the job.

Dan Lewis, another volunteer from Oklahoma, shared his disappointment with the federal response. “The Army Corps of Engineers said they’d survey the area, but by the time they finished their paperwork, the miners had built the road,” he said.

Locals continue to criticize the slow pace of federal aid. Bat Cave resident Curtis McCart shared that FEMA set up assistance in the fire department only recently, weeks after the disaster. “We were promised help, but it didn’t come fast enough,” he noted.

Despite the lack of timely government aid, the miners have shown that determination and community effort can bring quick relief, offering a sense of hope to a community still reeling from the hurricane.