After Hurricane Helene destroyed a vital highway in North Carolina, coal miners from West Virginia stepped up to rebuild the road, providing much-needed relief for residents. The miners, locally called the “West Virginia Boys,” reopened 2.7 miles of Highway 64 between Bat Cave and Chimney Rock in just three days — well ahead of any federal assistance.
Robin Phillips, one of the displaced residents, praised the miners’ efforts. “They rebuilt the road so quickly. I haven’t been home since the flood, but thanks to them, I can finally return,” she shared. Phillips and her husband, who own a campground, are eager to assess the state of their business after the storm’s devastation.
While the volunteers acted swiftly, the Biden-Harris administration’s response has been criticized. FEMA and the North Carolina DOT visited the area but did not take over the rebuilding project. Logan Campbell, a volunteer from Mississippi, noted the delay in federal action. “They were busy talking about long-term plans, but the miners were already making it happen,” he said.
Dan Lewis, another volunteer who came from Oklahoma, expressed disappointment with the administration’s slow aid delivery. “We’ve waited for federal crews, but the miners finished the job before anyone even arrived,” he said. Lewis and others have been camping on site for over two weeks, providing hands-on assistance.
Frustration among locals continues to grow as many residents have not received the help they expected. Bat Cave’s Curtis McCart shared his disappointment in FEMA’s delayed response. “They just showed up at the fire department. We’ve been waiting weeks,” he said. “We need more than promises.”
The “West Virginia Boys” demonstrated how local volunteers could quickly address the needs of their community, filling in the gaps where federal aid has fallen short. Their efforts have brought both relief and a renewed sense of hope to the region still grappling with the hurricane’s impact.
