Companies mining high-purity quartz in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, have paused operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The quartz is a critical component of the chip-making process — and it’s only found in Spruce Pine.

The enormous scope and scale of Hurricane Helene’s devastation in two key battleground states that could determine the election’s outcome, Georgia and North Carolina, have made the storm an instant campaign issue.

President Joe Biden approved federal disaster assistance for those affected by Hurricane Helene, including residents in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The aid can be applied to temporary housing, home repairs, uninsured property losses, child care and funerals, among other expenses.