The storm smashed into the North Carolina mountains last September, killing more than 100 people and causing an estimated $60 billion in damage. Chimney Rock, a hamlet of about 140 named for the 535-million-year-old geological wonder that underpins its tourism industry, was hit particularly hard.
The North Carolina House advanced another Hurricane Helene funding package on Thursday to address pressing needs in the mountains eight months after the storm caused historic flooding and destruction.
"Helene’s Unheard Warnings" is the title of a new ProPublica article that takes a deep dive into the catastrophic damage left behind by the storm. It also chronicles how, even with dire warnings from local and national outlets, Helene caught entire communities off guard.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein made another request of state lawmakers to commit hundreds of millions more dollars to western North Carolina's recovery from Hurricane Helene last year. Stein's proposal announced Monday totals $891 million.
Damage so far has been minimal, mostly limited to flooding on low-lying roads and bridges, says Will Holt, director of Watauga County’s Emergency Services.
Melissa McKinney has always wanted to be on stage at MerleFest, and this year she’s getting her chance. Her five-piece band, Mama & The Ruckus, will be one of eight acts competing in the festival’s annual band contest.
State officials say more than half of people in North Carolina prisons have mental health conditions, and three-quarters live with substance use disorders. The new initiative aims to help those at risk connect with care.
The state Senate's proposal, unveiled Monday, would bring the total dollar amount of funds the state has shifted to respond to the 2024 storm to more than $2 billion.