Standing Up for Each Other

What We Can Learn from Natural Disasters

Welcome to the Civic Way journal, our quick take on the relevance of current events to America’s future governance. The author, Bob Melville, is the founder of Civic Way, a nonprofit dedicated to good government, and a management consultant with over 45 years of experience improving public agencies.

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The first thing is not to despair. Let us not listen too much to those who proclaim that the world is at an end. Civilizations do not die so easily. – Albert Camus

Hurricane Helene

In September, only weeks before America’s presidential election, a cataclysmic storm slammed into Western Northern Carolina (and much of the Southeastern US and Caribbean). It brought historic devastation. Over 200 deaths. Thousands of homes and businesses. At least $90 billion in damages.

Asheville, North Carolina, a vibrant, charming city in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a city that was my home for many years, was viewed by many as a sanctuary against the risks of climate change. However, the rains and flooding that accompanied Helene ended that dream. Power lost. Water supplies disrupted. Infrastructure ravaged. And, given the rarity of flood insurance, futures lost.

At first, it was heartbreaking to watch the desolation. So many places we loved—Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Montreat, Weaverville, Old Fort and Hot Springs—damaged or destroyed. In Asheville, the River Arts District and Biltmore Village. Even neighborhoods like North Asheville, which largely escaped flood-related damage, lost power and water. The economic recovery will likely take years, if not decades.

In the days that followed, however, a different story emerged. One of people helping others. Churches giving food and water to strangers. Nonprofits offering hot meals to victims and volunteers alike. Neighbors helping each other repair homes and clear debris. Healthcare professionals making unimaginable sacrifices to care for the ill and injured. People helping each other without regard to their differences. A noble model for us all.

The Presidential Election

The votes are still being counted and, while the popular vote margin between former President Trump and Vice President Harris may tighten somewhat, it is clear that the former President won. It also is clear that the nation’s voters remain evenly divided, much as they have been since 2016. Trump’s mandate is no different from President Biden’s—to govern on behalf of all Americans. The jury is out on whether he will put the public interest first, but the early signs are not encouraging.

For those of us who see Trump as singularly unfit for office, the election was confounding and crushing. Much like watching the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene, it left us shaken and demoralized. Shock gave way to disappointment, worry and sleepless nights. A fear that we had lost something we might never get back. A sense that we had betrayed and soiled the gallant legacy for which so many had sacrificed their lives. That we had irrevocably stained the American experiment.

For those of us who see in Trump traits we would not tolerate in a friend, son or daughter, there are so many questions. Will his instability jeopardize our national security? Will his narcissism prevent him from serving the American people? Will his contempt for government gut public services? Will his thirst for vengeance undermine the rule of law and erode our freedoms? Will his vanity make him susceptible to zealots here and dictators abroad? Will his pride destroy political accountability once and for all, not just for him but a new generation of politicians? Will his pugnacity continue to divide us?

We can hope that this time Trump will rise to the demands of the Presidency and govern in a more bipartisan, enlightened way. Such hope can be comforting, but little more. We can assume that the second Trump administration will be more ruthless in carrying out its agenda (e.g., Project 2025), and counter this threat with slurs and jokes. However, this approach risks further alienating many of Trump’s supporters who take such attacks personally and have a corroding effect on his foes.

We’re In It Together

On 9/11, most Americans set aside their political differences and came together as one people. We have had similar moments of national unity throughout our history—like Pearl Harbor, the JFK assassination and the moon landing. We should not forget that this impulse is even more frequent at the local level when people rush to help one another in times of crisis.

Asheville’s massive volunteer effort is inspiring. Not because it so unique, but because it is not. It reflects something profoundly eternal and beautiful about the human spirit—a fundamental kindness that even demagogues can’t defeat. When natural disasters strike and we see people hurting or facing imminent harm, we don’t ask about their differences. In fact, we only ask one question, “How can I help?”

The next four years could pose a serious challenge to our democracy and global standing. It also could be an unsettling time for many individuals, such as women, workers, immigrants (and their children), minorities, and those with alternative sexual orientations. Whatever we face, we will have to face it together. If Trump’s proposals work, they could help us all, not just those who voted for him. If they fail, they will likely hurt all of us, not just those who voted against him.

How Can I Help?

Our charge is simple. We must stand up, not just for ourselves, but for others. How should we do this? I will offer more specific ideas in future essays, but it is very clear what we should not do. We should not despair. We should not personalize politics. We should not demonize others. We should not counter lies with more lies. We should not deny facts. We should not abandon our values. We should not condescend.

Instead, we should emulate places like Asheville where natural disasters compel local action (even with federal and state resources). We should engage locally. Connect with people around us, especially those with different political opinions. Listen and understand. Debate problems and solutions, not political personalities. When we disagree, challenge with compassion and respect.

We must do more to influence local decisions. Run for local office. Join local organizations (e.g., a civic group or church). Volunteer. Build community. And show up in times of crisis. [Many of us think about government as the federal government, but state and local governments together have nearly seven times more employees, and local government has the most.]

We should start by being a good neighbor. When our neighbors encounter misfortune, ask how you can help. When our neighbors are treated unfairly, stand up for them. This is one way to rebuild the trust we will need to protect the American Idea and save our nation from extremism. [More to follow.]