“You think hunting and gathering is bad?” said one police officer. “Some of these sickos are growing
their own crops!”
Photo by Liv Gilbert
In the aftermath of the destruction brought on by Hurricane Helene, residents of Asheville, North Carolina, were reportedly “shocked” to find that they were barred from entering grocery stores by local police. These residents had been without power for days and had only just recently been granted permission to leave their homes in search of supplies. “They refused to sell to us!” said Asheville resident Presley Winston. “They were standing there in a line, all Star Wars stormtrooper-like, willing to throw down their lives to protect the last can of beans at Publix,” he added.
Bystanders have reported a rotating group of police officers stationed outside grocery store entrances, turning away shoppers and threatening arrests for “not behaving in a calm, orderly fashion.” Chief of Police Roger Sternwood stated that they were there to “monitor the situation, and do [their] solemn duty to protect and serve business owners and property from the likes of the gathered rabble.”
“Do you know what happens to people in situations like this?” Sternwood continued. “They get desperate. And do you know what desperate people do? They loot! The Publix CEOs have paid me way too much to let that happen.”
Residents of Asheville took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to make their concerns known. “They’re denying hungry people critical supplies like food and water is what they’re doing,” wrote user @WrithingWorm. “We can see all the supplies through the window. We know they’re there. Those bastards are taunting us,” added user @auspicious_augur. In response to the inability to access to resources, Asheville citizens have begun the practice of what some residents have described as “hunting and gathering.”
“Each morning, we meet up and divide into teams. We go through neighborhoods and try to pick up what we can from the rubble. We take what we can from the houses — clothing, canned food if it’s there. We repair what we can and distribute supplies to others,” said community organizer Carl Mark.
“It’s nice,” said Asheville resident Sasha List. “In the wake of this destruction, we’ve managed to come together like this and help each other out. We’ve really become a community. I’ve gotten to know so many people who I’d never met before.”
Soon after the practice began, Sternwood declared that hunting and gathering as a whole would also be banned. “It’s glorified dumpster diving! If they’re not looting the stores, they’re taking other people’s belongings. It’s dangerous and uncouth behavior.” He then outlined the steps to re-opening grocery stores in a timely manner to allow people to shop for supplies. “The stores will be open for a three-hour period and residents can queue up in line for their turn to shop. Shoppers will be carefully monitored by plainclothes officers working as ‘shopping assistants’ who will ensure no people try any funny business, like taking too much.”
Other residents have speculated on the true reasons behind the decision to ban hunting and gathering. “It’s all because of the money,” said one resident who wished to remain unnamed. “The grocery stores are losing too much since we’re getting by on our own, and they can’t stand that. They’re also totally price gouging.”
