Rep. Pricey Harrison (Photo: NCGA)

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina is rightfully provoking calls for more action than has been forthcoming from state and federal lawmakers, and one area in which one hopes such demands will bear fruit is in planning and prevention. Regrettably, 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 Rep. Harrison told Newsline during a conversation we had in October, it’s her hope that Hurricane Helene will finally spur her colleagues to action in this long-neglected area.

This is a rebroadcast of our interview that originally aired on October 13, 2024