Tribes work together after devastating hurricane hits Cherokee community

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians received aid from other tribes and local communities as they navigated the challenges of disaster recovery.

Taylar Dawn Stagner reports for Grist.

In short:

• Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction in North Carolina, hitting tribal communities particularly hard, with recovery efforts ongoing.
• Tribal nations, often overlooked in disaster relief, rely on mutual support and face significant barriers to federal aid access.
• Tribes like the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma and the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina have provided crucial supplies and relief to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Key quote:

“These storms are getting more intense, and hurricanes affecting further inland into the continent makes us all feel a degree of vulnerability.”

— Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma

Why this matters:

As climate change intensifies, tribal communities face growing threats from natural disasters, often with limited federal aid. Their resilience and intertribal cooperation highlight the need for more equitable disaster relief policies.