How Hurricane Helene hampered abortion in the South

By Ariel Wittenberg | 10/24/2024 06:34 AM EDT

The storm shuttered the only abortion clinic in western North Carolina, disrupting health care for pregnant people across a large region.

The Planned Parenthood facility in Asheville, North Carolina, is shown.

The Planned Parenthood facility in Asheville, North Carolina, remains closed due to flooding from Hurricane Helene. Angelina Katsanis/POLITICO via AP Images

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina — North Carolina’s only abortion provider west of Charlotte has been closed since Hurricane Helene because it lacks potable water.

The monthlong closure of the Asheville Planned Parenthood has forced patients to travel hours for care. It has also strained other abortion clinics in North Carolina, which have seen increases in appointments over the last two years as neighboring states have limited or banned procedures following the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court.

“This is a very harmful loss of access for patients in North Carolina and also surrounding states and region,” said Julia Walker, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. “But this would not have been such a harmful and impactful storm if we had laws that allowed more access for people to obtain care.”

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When Helene barreled through Asheville last month, it took out the city’s water supply lines. Water delivery has only recently been restored to most of the city, but even now the water is not safe for drinking and hand washing.

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