Stay up to date with WRAL’s Helene impact news and reporting coverage
Some towns in Western North Carolina have spent more on disaster cleanup than they make in an entire year, and now some say they're running out of money. Local leaders say FEMA still hasn't delivered on millions in promised aid, forcing small governments to drain their reserves.
Western North Carolina counties spent tens of millions on Helene recovery, often more than their entire annual budgets, while FEMA delays keep promised funds out of reach.
More than 40 dams failed when Helene hit the mountains in September 2024. Advocates say it won't be the last time unless North Carolina confronts its aging, overlooked infrastructure.
The event pays homage to George Vanderbilt's first Christmas in 1895, with unique decorations and a majestic 35-foot tree, inviting guests to relive a historic festive experience.
Some feel left behind by the state and federal response a year after Helene. On the ground, volunteers are undeterred in helping victims, highlighting the best of the state's values.
Cristin Severance and Ryan Bisesi, WRAL
Western North Carolina's struggles came in many forms in the weeks following Hurricane Helene. There was a mountain of cleanup and recovery to climb, but many stories of help and hope emerged.
A Lee County teacher and her husband were storm-prepping their mountain vacation home the night before Hurricane Helene hit. She was swept away in floodwaters, leaving a hole in the hearts of friends and family.
By Cristin Severance and Ryan Bisesi, WRAL News
The quaint, picturesque village of Chimney Rock that was crushed by Hurricane Helene is getting a makeover. A complete recovery will take years, but the process is something that residents feel called to do in overcoming the disaster.
People and businesses are working to get back on their feet one year after Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.
WRAL Documentary Investigator Cristin Severance talked to Amber Ballew's family in Fairview, who are struggling to rebound after their home was a total loss.
Those in Marshall, a small town in Madison County, look to long-standing businesses for strength after the tough times brought on by Hurricane Helene. That's where Zuma Coffee comes in.
The heart of a small North Carolina mountain town can be found in one of its more prominent businesses, which faced long odds of survival after Helene tore through the town.
Eric Miller, WRAL anchor/reporter
A year after an EF3 tornado devastated Rocky Mount, leaving Keishia Justice's business in ruins, the resilient business owner is back on her feet. As another storm threatens, Nash County officials urge preparedness.
Their homes flooded, lives lost and a legacy vanished. How the surviving members of the Craig family have hurricane-strength hearts after a trying year, during which "some lost all."
The North Carolina Department of Transportation holds a press conference to provide an update on the reconstruction of Interstate 40 in western North Carolina one year after Hurricane Helene forced part of the road to close.
Becoming whole again. So many businesses were torn apart during Hurricane Helene. WRAL's Tar Heel Traveler shows the progress of one business, a year after the storm.
Erica Shanks is Riverkeeper for the Green River, meaning she helps guard, protect and conserve one of North Carolina's most popular, and heavily traveled aquatic playgrounds. Her and others are working to bring it back to what it was before Hurricane Helene.
Some of the most scenic parts of North Carolina are in the western part of the state. However, the tourism that usually stimulates the area's economy has been on hold after Hurricane Helene.
North Carolina leaders are set to meet Thursday to advocate for increased federal recovery funding nearly a year after Hurricane Helene caused $60 billion in damage.
On Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, a damaging tornado ripped through Nash County as Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina's mountains.
One year after Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina, the extent of the damage is becoming clearer.
One man who stayed behind in his western North Carolina home during Helene is moving into a new home. Meanwhile, his neighbor is struggling to return to get her situation back to normal.
