I'm from Appalachia and my Christmas visit after Hurricane Helene revealed what DC really thinks of us

While visiting my family for Christmas a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to partner with a local church and deliver Christmas gifts and supplies to families in our county of less than 20,000, located on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. .

This experience gave me the opportunity to listen to the stories of my neighbors, many of whom I have known all my life.

One story stuck with me. A multi-generational family of six living in a five-wheeler. They had lost their home and everything they loved – except their faith.

HURRICANE HELENE: THE 'BACKBONE OF AMERICA' HELPING FARMERS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST WHO LOST BILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD

Unfortunately, their story is all too familiar in the small mountain communities of Southern Appalachia.

It's been nearly five months since Hurricane Helene reshaped the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.

In the past months, we have seen the true nature of humanity.

Our community has come together. Businesses are helping each other clean up and rebuild. Churches still deliver warm clothes and hot food on foot and on horseback. Non-profit companies from all over the Northeast are bringing in needed supplies like diapers, blankets, and baby formula.

It was Elon Musk, with the help of private citizens like former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and the Cajun Navy who brought Starlink routers to every crack in Western North Carolina, connecting us to the outside world.

Western North Carolina and Southern Appalachia are rebuilding each other.

The federal government has been slow to respond and help despite the incredible efforts of leaders like Congressman Chuck Edwards and Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd.

Party politics have slowed relief efforts, with many in Raleigh and Washington partying over people.

As temperatures drop and inches of snow fall each week, many North Carolinians remain homeless, relying on tents for shelter.

FEMA brought trailers to the county but failed to successfully approve those who applied for them nearly five months ago.

The bright light on this storm is the resilience of Appalachia. Although activists on both sides are trying to use this tragedy for political gain, our communities have come together to help each other.

Cities like Marshall, North Carolina, are planning to reopen in the coming months despite more than half of the city being destroyed by flooding.

In the more than 25 years I have called Western North Carolina home, we are stronger than ever.

However, the strength and resilience of our community can sustain our sense of normalcy for a long time.

Western North Carolina is in trouble.

Leaders on both sides must hold government officials accountable for underestimating the needs of our communities.

Winter is just beginning. As temperatures dip into the single digits and windchills into the negatives, churches and nonprofits are jumping into action to fill the ever-present void left by ineffective government red tape.

The time to act was five months ago, but late action is better than nothing.

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Our community desperately needs investment in affordable housing and infrastructure to boost our local economy and provide families with the resources they need to get back on their feet.

Insurance companies are redefining flood zones; Many families are buying value in their homes and properties. The Small Business Administration is running out of money, undermining the resilience of counties that need economic opportunity the most. And state and municipal governments are relying on small distributions of disaster relief funds to bring critical facilities back online.

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This is not a political issue and should not be controversial. For over 100 years, Appalachia has been abandoned by our federal government. Now, when we need them most, they can't be bothered to act with urgency.

Appalachia cannot be defined by Helene; it will be defined by the overwhelming response of the people who call these mountains home.