Author: Brad Brooks and Leonora LaPeter Anton

As the November 5 presidential election approaches, Republican candidate Donald Trump is trailing behind Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris, according to recent Reuters/Ipsos polling. Trump criticized his opponents for their handling of storm recovery efforts, especially in North Carolina, which was severely affected by Hurricane Helene. In response, Harris accused Trump of spreading lies about the government’s response to the disaster during a Univision town hall event. This issue of storm recovery has become politicized, with both parties aware of the impact inadequate responses can have on public opinion. Reflecting on former President George Bush’s plummeting approval ratings after Hurricane Katrina…