In the early hours of a fateful Friday, the lives of over 550 men incarcerated at Mountain View Correctional Institution in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, took a harrowing turn. As Hurricane Helene unleashed its fury upon Western North Carolina, Nick, a prisoner who requested to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, awoke to find his single-occupancy cell flooded. The storm had not only breached the prison’s physical barriers but also stripped away the basic human dignity of its residents, leaving them trapped in unsanitary conditions for nearly a week.
The aftermath of the hurricane revealed a grim reality for those incarcerated. According to family members and firsthand accounts, the men endured a complete loss of contact with the outside world, deprived of running water, electricity, and basic sanitation. For five days, they were left to cope with overflowing toilets and a lack of food and clean drinking water. Bridget Gentry, whose husband was among those affected, recounted his trauma: “He said, ‘We thought we were going to die there. We didn’t think anybody was going to come back for us.’”
The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) later confirmed that the conditions were dire, with some inmates resorting to defecating in plastic bags as their toilets became unusable. Keith Acree, the NCDAC’s head of communications, acknowledged that while the facilities did not run out of food or water, the situation was far from acceptable. He stated, “Some offenders did defecate in plastic bags. That was a solution they devised on their own.”
The lack of timely communication from the NCDAC exacerbated the anxiety of families. Many relatives took to social media, desperately seeking updates on their loved ones. Stephanie Luffman, a concerned partner, expressed her frustration, stating, “I feel like the NCDAC wasn’t going to do anything until I started raising hell.” This sentiment was echoed by others who felt that their loved ones were being treated as an afterthought amid the chaos of the storm.
As the storm’s impact unfolded, the NCDAC began evacuating inmates from various facilities, prioritizing those in dormitory-style housing over those in single-cell environments. This decision drew criticism, as family members questioned the rationale behind the evacuation order, especially when conditions at Mountain View deteriorated rapidly. Sammy Harmon Jr., an inmate at Mountain View, described the experience as “going a week without a shower or water to use the toilet,” highlighting the severe neglect faced by those incarcerated during the natural disaster.
The broader implications of Hurricane Helene’s devastation extend beyond the prison walls. Spruce Pine, a small Appalachian town, has been significantly impacted, with the hurricane’s death toll surpassing 200 and rescue efforts ongoing. The flooding has disrupted local industries, particularly quartz mining, which is crucial for the global semiconductor supply chain. Yet, amidst these discussions, the plight of the incarcerated population has largely been overlooked.
In the wake of the storm, the NCDAC announced that over 2,000 incarcerated individuals were relocated from five facilities in flood-ravaged areas. However, the lack of transparency regarding the conditions faced by inmates during the storm has raised serious concerns about the treatment of those in custody. Family members have voiced their frustrations over the inadequate response and the perceived prioritization of certain facilities over others.
The emotional toll of this experience cannot be understated. Many inmates are left grappling with the psychological scars of their ordeal. Gentry shared her husband’s struggles, stating, “My husband told me this morning he’s going to have to go see a therapist because of the things that happened in there.” This highlights a critical need for mental health support for incarcerated individuals, particularly in the aftermath of traumatic events.
The situation at Mountain View Correctional Institution serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by incarcerated populations during natural disasters. As communities rebuild and recover, it is imperative that the voices of those affected, along with their families, are heard and that systemic changes are made to ensure the humane treatment of all individuals, regardless of their circumstances.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has not only exposed the inadequacies of the prison system in crisis management but also calls for a reevaluation of how incarcerated individuals are treated during emergencies. As the community of Spruce Pine begins to heal, it is crucial that the lessons learned from this disaster lead to meaningful reforms that prioritize the dignity and humanity of all individuals, both inside and outside prison walls.