Is NC prepared for an election during the next disaster? What Helene taught us

(Editor's note: This article was written by Karen Brinson Bell and Mike Sprayberry and first appeared in the News and Observer, October 8th)

North Carolina recently recognized the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene. While it’s a moment to reflect on the state’s preparedness in the face of such a disaster, it’s also an opportunity to consider what happens when another storm hits, particularly during an election.

Disasters are bound to occur, but the question is whether our communities will have the foresight, resources and partnerships to guarantee every eligible American can cast a ballot, even amid chaos and destruction. Just last year, we saw election officials who lost their homes still show up for work; election staff and National Guardsmen crossing rivers to reach remote voters; and citizens, surrounded by destruction, insisting on casting their ballots as an act of normalcy.

Looking back a year later, we recognize how much North Carolina got right — and how those lessons can guide us in the future. With continued dedication and investment from election officials and emergency management professionals, our state can build on that foundation to ensure election infrastructure remains strong and resilient when the next Helene comes barreling through the Tar Heel State.

As the former chief election official in North Carolina and as the former state emergency management director, we know that preparation for any hazard begins months and years in advance, requiring rigorous, ongoing planning and coordination at every level. Our response to Hurricane Helene was not designed for a hurricane alone, but for any disruption — natural or man-made.

Election officials at the state and local level must have emergency legal authority, robust partnerships with emergency management and regularly practiced contingency plans. This allows us to be prepared for the expected and unexpected. Funding for these efforts should be safeguarded, not reduced, during years when disaster seems distant or when elections are not as high profile.

Legal flexibility played an important role in our response. The State Board of Elections and the North Carolina legislature authorized bipartisan county boards to adjust voting sites, reassign poll workers and expand absentee voting, even allowing ballots to be returned across county lines. This was the right move. These adaptations, enabled by emergency authority, are the difference between a system that bends and one that breaks. This standard of flexibility will be critical in the preparedness and response efforts in the years to come.

Going forward, it will be essential to embed hazards planning into the core of elections by regularly convening local, state and federal partners. You can’t make up for the trust and familiarity that come from regular contact, and the worst time to search for someone’s number is in the middle of a crisis.

None of this comes cheap. Emergency response cannot be an afterthought in state or federal budgets. The day-to-day operating funds of state and county election offices were woefully insufficient for the scale of disaster response Helene demanded. In 2024, the state’s emergency management agency immediately prioritized elections with other critical infrastructure. Resources were provided through North Carolina Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other state emergency funds, covering needs our regular budget could not.

Disasters are inevitable. The nation’s election calendar is immovable, and the need to ensure safe, secure, accessible voting does not depend on the weather or any other hazards. 

Democracy’s real strength is revealed not during fair weather, but in the storm’s fury. Whether from the vantage of election administration or emergency management, our professional commitment is to ensure that, no matter what calamity strikes, the people’s voice is heard loud, clear and unyielding. Only then do we truly honor the promise of government by the people, for the people, come rain or come shine.

 Karen Brinson Bell is the former executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections and chief election official for the state from June 2019 through May 2025. Mike Sprayberry is the former executive director of the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management for the state from January 2013 through July 2021 and was president of the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) in 2017-2018. He is currently the Senior Advisor for Emergency Management at Hagerty Consulting.