About 60 miles from the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Swannanoa, evidence of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene begins to show itself.

Hundreds of uprooted fir trees line the road, but this damage is minor compared to the destruction in Swannanoa itself.

Nearly five weeks after winds gusted to 140 mph, cars and debris from collapsed homes remain where they fell, and a foul odor from damaged sewage systems lingers in the air. Yet at Valley Hope Church, locals gather for a “Trunk ‘n’ Treat” event, handing out gifts and Halloween costumes to the town’s children.

It’s here Donald Trump sparked outrage claiming that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was absent immediately afterward because it had spent a large portion of its budget helping illegal immigrants cross the country’s southern border.

This claim, which has been debunked, led to attacks on FEMA staff as they worked to bring some sense of normalcy to cities like this.

Despite his comments, devotees are in a forgiving mood.

Valley Hope Children’s Director Jennifer Aitken organized today’s gathering. Reluctantly, she confirms that FEMA was there.

“I’ve seen FEMA do things, but I’ve also seen our church and our churches throughout the county taking care of the people around them,” she said. “We still don’t have clean water to drink, but we are getting by. »

She won’t say how she’ll vote in the election, but if everyone here has anything to say, Trump’s FEMA lie won’t hurt her chances here.

“The only thing that matters to me right now is that the people in my community know that Jesus loves them and that as a church we are here for them,” she says.

Erin Hutchens, who drove several hours from Mooresville with her family and church to support Swannanoa, is less reserved.

She points to Elon Musk’s Star link satellites, which help restore communications, are a key example of how the community has received help. “I’m a Trump supporter,” she says confidently. “I’m grateful for everything he’s done, especially for helping bring Starlink here.”

She recognizes Trump’s flaws but remains loyal, undeterred by his controversies. “With him, it’s all about business, making sure people are taken care of no matter what.” I think she’s a caring person deep down.

About 30 miles away, in Hendersonville, another North Carolina town, floodwaters have mostly subsided, leaving only a few visible signs of the storm’s damage. An uprooted tree near the Henderson County Courthouse serves as a reminder of the force of the hurricane.

Becky Banadyga owns and operates Sherman’s Ports and Army Store, which opened in 1922 to provide the local community with a wide selection of outdoor clothing, camping equipment and hiking shoes.

“Main Street reopened quickly,” she notes, explaining that the town’s plateau helped avoid the worst of the flooding. However, the power outages lasted for several days, leaving residents isolated.

“At my house, the electricity was cut for 11 days. We didn’t have television, so we didn’t have election advertising. It was actually pretty cool.

When asked about Trump’s claims about FEMA, Becky dismisses them. “We were lucky,” she said. “Many churches, FEMA and individuals all came to help us. » Initially reluctant to discuss her voting plans, Becky hints at her leanings with a subtle critique of Trump’s comments. “In other words,” she adds, “as a woman whose abortion is planned, it won’t be Trump. »

Becky is a rare person Kamala Harris endure in the mountains. But while the rural and religious vote favors Trump significantly, the situation in urban areas is somewhat different.

The largest city in North Carolina is Charlotte, with a population of just under 900,000. Known as the Queen City, it owes its name to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, queen consort of King George III at the time of the city’s founding.

The energy is palpable as a mile-long line of people awaits a rallyBarack Obama. Harris supporters here are energetic but nervous, knowing how close the race is.

Karen Seville is among those lining up to see another heartbreaking speech from Obama.

“I know the world wants Kamala to be president, except for dictatorships,” she said. “Anyone who starts an insurrection should not be the head of a country.”

But while that might make sense to her, Karen and her new “linemates” are voting in a state where the latest polls show a deadlock between the contenders, which worries her.

“I was scared to death,” she said. “This is the most important election in generations. We can’t let this fool back in the White House. He is unbalanced, he has neither character nor ethics.

“I’m afraid he will return to power. It will be devastating for this country and devastating for the world. »

Nearby, friends Queen Keisha and Marva Short echo this concern. “I’m volunteering for the Democratic campaign, and it’s very tight,” Keisha says. “That’s why we’re working hard to get Kamala across the finish line. I’m worried, I’m very worried.

Marva adds: “I change from day to day, sometimes from minute to minute. It’s so close. I’ve been trying to get people to Kamala, especially my male friends, who can be harder to convince.

As Marva chats, she is surprised to see one of Trump acolyte Elon Musk’s unique-looking Cybertrucks drive past the queue in the conference center flying two Harris/Waltz flags.

While Harris campaigns in Raleigh, the state capital of North Carolina, thousands of country music fans arrive in Charlotte for a hurricane benefit concert, filling the nearby American football stadium.

Largely from rural, predominantly white areas, many of these participants support Trump, and some still believe his defeat in the 2020 election was illegitimate. “Trump all the way, my man,” says Scott Lachelt, an audience member eager to see Harris-supporting artists James Taylor and Cheryl Crow perform. “Last time, the election was stolen from him, and we cannot allow that to happen again.”

In Raleigh, many residents are just as politically engaged.

The city’s bohemian vibe and support for Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz are evident in storefronts and cafes displaying campaign posters.

In the Raleigh Timesa former newspaper office transformed into a pub, a customer comments to bartender Maddie about the Harris/Waltz poster in the window. “Thank you,” she replies. “Make sure you vote to put the right person in the White House.”

Outside the pub, Jaidyn McCallop and her friend Taitum James, two young African-American women, express their concerns about the outcome of the election. Both recent college graduates, they worry about the implications of a new Trump term, particularly regarding abortion rights.

“Why should anyone be forced into an unwanted pregnancy? » asks Jaidyn. “That doesn’t make any sense.” Taitum agrees, adding that seeing Harris, a woman of color, in the White House would be personally meaningful. “We didn’t grow up seeing someone who looked like us in power,” she said. “Having Kamala as president would show that America is moving in the right direction, not the past.”

For us, it would be bigger than Obama. It’s a woman. That would be truly huge and would show that America is actually moving in the right direction, not a return to the past. »

There are strong passions for both candidates in North Carolina, and with less than a week until the polls open, it won’t be long before half of this beautiful state is devastated, but this time by a political storm.