In Chimney Rock, Governor Roy Cooper and Mayor Peter O’Leary walk through Main Street to survey damage of the area caused from Hurricane Helene. (Pool photo/Paul Barker-Governor's Office)

It’s easy to get discouraged these days about the disinformation and loony conspiracy theories surrounding Hurricane Helene. Sadly, thanks to social media and a few irresponsible politicians, things that would have once been dismissed as ridiculous urban legends have spread instantly and with an air of apparent authority today.

Happily, however, despite the fear and discord that false rumors have helped sow, it’s clear that leaders of both major political parties want to respond to the disaster.

This encouraging truth has been on display at all levels of government in recent weeks as officials worked to allocate public funds to hurricane relief and recovery.

The bottom line: Efforts thus far have not been perfect – as I noted yesterday, state legislators need to be more transparent and spend a lot more — but the bipartisan nature of the hurricane response is at least a reminder that North Carolinians still care about their neighbors, retain many common bonds and can work together to use government to make life better for all. One hopes that’s a pattern that our leaders build on going forward.

For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.