Hurricane Helene left destruction in its wake in western North Carolina. But elections officials are also moving heaven and earth to bring back a sense of normalcy, one vote at a time.

Early in-person voting has started in the presidential battleground state of North Carolina. That includes in the mountains, where some potential voters still lack power and clean running water after Hurricane Helene’s epic flooding last month.

“Yesterday’s turnout is a clear sign that voters are energized about this election, that they trust the elections process, and that a hurricane will not stop North Carolinians from exercising their right to vote,” Brinson Bell said in a press release Friday.

Poll workers and voters in western North Carolina are overcoming several obstacles to participate in the election after Hurricane Helene's destruction in the region

Former President Trump on Monday made a swing through North Carolina, seeking to shore up his support in a crucial battleground state with early voting underway. “I’d like to begin by asking a question.

North Carolina officials say the catastrophic flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene is likely to have caused at least $53 billion in damages and recovery needs in the state