Three days after the storm, Jones and his wife managed to hike up to his elderly mother-in-law’s house by wading through mud up to their knees. Donations pile up at Minneapolis Baptist Church in Newland, N.C., on Wednesday, after its fellowship hall was damaged by Hurricane Helene’s remnants. Helene’s crushing aftermath is colliding with another political storm Thursday as in-person early voting begins in North Carolina, one of several battlegrounds expected to play outsized roles in the election. In addition to the presidential race, voters in North Carolina will also decide on their controversial race for governor and contests for attorney general and state school superintendent. “There’s simply nothing left in some of the areas,” said Patrick Gannon, the public Information director for the North Carolina Board of Elections.

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Persons: NEWLAND, we’ve, ”, Larry Jones, Hurricane Helene, Jones, Gabe Gutierrez, It’s, There’s, Patrick Gannon, “, ” Jones Organizations: Minneapolis Baptist Church, NBC, North Carolina Board Locations: N.C, Minneapolis, Avery County, Newland, North Carolina, Asheville