More than two months have passed since Hurricane Helene struck the central Appalachians, claiming over 230 lives, displacing thousands and causing an estimated $225 billion in damages – the worst natural disaster in our region’s history. Much of the area faces the devastating reality of food shortages, lack of clean water, loss of homes and limited connectivity. Meanwhile, Congress failed to pass an emergency relief bill and increase funding for FEMA, while, by comparison, relief for Hurricane Katrina came within 10 days and for Hurricane Harvey within seven days. We need Congress to act this week to pass a relief package before the Christmas recess that mobilizes resources and empowers communities to define their own recovery.

Years of disinvestment in Central Appalachia have left our region ill-prepared for a disaster of this magnitude, forcing many to turn to philanthropic organizations that answered the call. However, private philanthropy cannot handle the burden of this monumental task. The federal government alone has the capacity and authority to mobilize resources on the scale necessary for a disaster of this magnitude. At this crucial moment, both federal and philanthropic leaders must act with urgency and intention. Without clarity from the federal government about the scope of its response, philanthropy faces the challenge of identifying gaps and determining how best to allocate resources to meet immediate and long-term needs.

Helene was no ordinary storm; It was a disaster of biblical proportions, bringing record-breaking rains, winds and flooding to western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and parts of Virginia. Entire cities were washed away. Local heroes are still doing everything they can – clearing streets, delivering supplies and helping neighbors save what little is left – but they can’t do it alone. Communities that have already given so much to America now need to be rebuilt and face challenges that require immediate and sustained attention.

But as we work to provide relief, Appalachia’s story is often misrepresented by a national narrative that portrays the region as isolated, backward or resistant to outsiders. These stereotypes, long used to justify neglect and exploitation, continue to distort reality on the ground today. As my father, Ronald D. Eller, once wrote Uneven ground“We know that Appalachia exists because we need its existence to define what we are not.” The truth is more complex, told not in false elegies about hillbillies by politically motivated opportunists, but rather viewed as a mirror in which America can see itself.

Appalachia receives a fraction of the philanthropic support that other regions receive, with funders in rural central Appalachia having access to only a tenth of the resources of their urban counterparts. This disparity is even more striking when you consider how great the challenges here were even before the storm—broadband, health care, and food deserts; intergenerational poverty resulting from extraction; and the ongoing opioid crisis. With Hurricane Helene’s damage exceeding $225 billion, the losses go beyond infrastructure. We have lost lives, homes, communities, ecologically rich lands and irreplaceable cultural sites, including up to 20% of our forest cover. It’s not just a financial loss; It is a deep wound in the fabric of our region.

Appalachia has given this country more than most realize: its wood built our homes, its coal fueled the Industrial Revolution, and its population—which serves in the military at the highest rate per capita in the country—has repeatedly made sacrifices for America. This region needs more than our admiration; it requires action and undivided attention.

Appalachia has enriched our nation’s cultural, historical and social landscape and embodies a spirit of service that extends far beyond its borders. Our country owes Appalachia more than thoughts and prayers – it owes a commitment to helping these communities rebuild stronger and safer. This is not about entitlement, but about acknowledging an overdue commitment to respect and action. We urgently need rapid government action to complement philanthropic efforts and ensure a comprehensive, equitable recovery for our region. Congress must not allow Appalachia’s needs to be forgotten in the confusion of campaign promises and political agendas. Emergency legislation is needed to address the immediate and long-term impacts of this disaster and ensure that Appalachia’s path to recovery is not delayed.

Reverend Ryan M. Eller is executive director of the Appalachia Funders Network.

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