Hurricane Helene was part of a plan for a land grab related to lithium extraction.

Between Kings Mountain and Chimney Rock, NC, lies one of the largest lithium deposits in the world. The rights to this resource are owned by Albemarle Corporation. On September 24, the company applied for federal and state permits to redirect and reconstruct its mining operations in the area.

Albemarle Corporation is owned by shareholders, including major investment firms BlackRock and Vanguard Group. Interestingly, one of the largest investors in these firms is Douglas Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris.