Here’s what should happen, and it should happen quickly: Gov. Mike Easley and legislative leaders should convene in Raleigh a day or two before the scheduled start of the General Assembly session. In a couple of days lawmakers can develop a proper package of aid for flood victims in Western North Carolina, assuring residents here that state leaders understand the magnitude of the September 2004 disaster.

There’s been a groundswell of support among lawmakers from the western part of the state for a special session. The select committee on flood relief has developed a list of $350 to $400 million in unmet needs in 19 counties affected by the twin hurricanes of Frances and Ivan in September.

Although it has been nearly four months since those floods, the devastation is still visible everywhere. Haywood County alone has about $58 million in unmet needs, a figure that is almost identical to Buncombe. In Macon County the figure stands at nearly $14 million. In other words, state help is vital if these counties and their citizens are to get back on their feet.

And the sooner the better. Lives have been disrupted for months. FEMA has done a lot, but it is not nearly adequate. This cost of the unmet needs is far less than the $600 million OK’d by the state when Hurricane Floyd swept through the east five years ago. The smaller dollar figure, though, does not indicate that the need is any less significant. One look at Clyde and parts of Canton, or the Peeks Creek community in Macon County, will reveal just how devastating the floodwaters were.

Without a special session, lawmakers have pointed out that the needs of this region may get lost in the budget squabbling that occurs during the regular legislative session. By convening with nothing else on the agenda except to develop a flood relief package, lawmakers can check their partisanship at the door and do what’s right for Western North Carolina and its people.

The logistics of calling a special session so close to when the legislature is scheduled to convene on Jan. 26 presents a few problems, but none that can’t be overcome. Since the start date is on a Wednesday, leaders could ask lawmakers to come back on Sunday or Monday. With the select committee’s report in hand it should not take Senate and House leaders long to do the necessary work.

Mountain people don’t typically walk around with their hands out asking for help. It’s not in their nature. But this time the need is overwhelming, and we’re asking state leaders to do what’s right.