**Early Voting in Black Mountain Begins Amidst Recovery from Hurricane Helene**

Residents of Black Mountain, North Carolina, braved cracked and crooked roads to cast their votes on the first day of early voting, as their town continues to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Among them was 71-year-old Carolyn Burgess, who made her way to the Black Mountain Public Library to cast her vote. Burgess, a supporter of Republican candidate Donald Trump, expressed her dissatisfaction with FEMA’s response to the disaster. "Trump is right," she stated. "FEMA isn't doing enough."

Further back in the line was Matthew Slauson, a 68-year-old Democrat critical of former President Trump's allegations regarding the Biden administration’s efforts in managing the disaster. "Catastrophes around the country are happening more and more," Slauson noted. "That's why everyone here needs to vote."

The community of Black Mountain, home to 8,500 residents, remains divided on governmental response following the hurricane's destruction. The area has been grappling with the aftermath of deadly flooding and road-crushing mudslides brought on by excessive rain last month. With these challenges in mind, voters are now faced with deciding which candidates might better help them heal and rebuild.

Interviews with voters at the Black Mountain Public Library revealed that most had already decided their choices. In a purplish town within left-leaning Buncombe County, the local community is unified in one aspect: the urgent need for effective leadership in the wake of one of the nation's worst natural disasters in decades.