State Rep. Pricey Harrison on the aftermath of Helene and the need for better planning

News & Views

State Rep. Pricey Harrison of Guilford County (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina is rightfully provoking calls for action by state and federal lawmakers, and one area in which one hopes such demands bear fruit is in planning and prevention. As the New York Times recently reported, state Republican legislative leaders have repeatedly blocked legislation and rules, and overrode gubernatorial vetoes, designed to protect against the impacts of hurricanes and other storms.

Thankfully, advocates have long identified and championed policies that would better prepare our state for the storms that will inevitably come our way (and also combat the climate change that’s helping to drive them) and one of the most knowledgeable is State Rep. Pricey Harrison of Guilford County. And as Harrison told me when I caught up with her this past week, it’s her hope that Hurricane Helene will finally spur her colleagues to action in this long-neglected area.