Western North Carolina was devastated by Tropical Storm Helene. The road to recovery will be long. And Carolina Public Press will be there to report on it.
On Sept. 27, 2024, Tropical Storm Helene brought devastating wind and rains to Western North Carolina, creating horrific floods and landslides that claimed lives, destroyed infrastructure, damaged homes and businesses and ripped apart forests. But the people of the North Carolina mountains are rebuilding. Carolina Public Press is with them to look at what happened and the road forward.
Mountains Unbowed represents all of CPP’s ongoing coverage of Helene, listed chronologically from the day it hit, through the storm’s aftermath and the road to recovery. It will be updated regularly while coverage continues. Below on the page are previous reports on related issues. CPP’s disaster reporting initiative is being made possible through the support of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, Dogwood Health Trust and readers like you.
In September 2025, this page was the recipient of a North Carolina Press Association award for 1st place in Special Sections in the Online Division. Individual awards also went to content that appears here including 1st place for Breaking News Coverage, 1st and 2nd place for News Enterprise Reporting, 1st place for Feature Writing, 1st and 2nd place for Spot Photography and 1st and 3rd place for Photo Essays.
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Helene hammers NC with water and wind
Record-breaking flooding hits Asheville, major highways are closed, the Lake Lure dam is in jeopardy in wake of Tropical Storm Helene.
Images of Asheville after Helene
A photo essay of Asheville, North Carolina, and its people, in the grip of record-breaking flooding and widespread destruction.
Holding on in Western NC, three days after Helene
A roundup of what’s happening across Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, as of Sept. 30.
The vote must go on. Planning elections in a disaster area.
NC State Board of Elections grants emergency flexibility to disaster area counties, including absentee voting meeting schedules and voter ID.
Relief begins as receding waters reveal hellscape in Western NC
Roundup of news in NC disaster zone from Tuesday, Oct. 1, with a photo essay of the region as Helene recovery begins and the waters recede.
NC school systems in storm’s wake struggle to adapt
Storm damage, power outages, water issues, food shortages and closed roads keep many Western NC school systems closed and seeking way forward.
Voices after the storm. Talking with people in Asheville following Helene.
Conversations with ordinary people in Asheville, NC, about what recent days have been like, their hopes and fears after Tropical Storm Helene.
Long, uneven road to recovery ahead for Western NC counties after Helene
As federal and state help arrive, broken water infrastructure a major concern. Plus, a county-by-county roundup of latest NC recovery efforts.
Beware of scams in Western NC after Helene
Bad actors often pop up to exploit storm survivors and people trying to assist in disaster areas. Police and lawyers offer tips about scams.
‘Mother nature took back her mountains.’ Surviving Helene in Boone.
After extreme flooding, Boone and App State face sinkholes, landslides, destroyed houses and roads, and challenges to recovery.
Disruption from port strike will hamper Western NC recovery
Even though longshoremen agreed to end port strike after three days, the flow of supplies has been affected, will slow down Helene recovery.
Out of the mud. Talking with storm survivors in Yancey and Mitchell counties.
A week after Tropical Storm Helene hit NC, storm survivors in Yancey and Mitchell counties talk with CPP. Their stories and a photo essay.
Small businesses in Western NC seek path forward after catastrophic damage from Helene
With physical damage, no water and shortages on supplies, local businesses across NC areas struck by Tropical Storm Helene face challenges.
Applying for FEMA aid in NC after Tropical Storm Helene
What to know when getting ready to apply to FEMA for assistance after Tropical Storm Helene hit North Carolina.
Keeping democracy functioning in NC after devastation of Helene
NC elections officials in areas hit by Tropical Storm Helene ensure democracy will function even if power, sewage, internet and roads don’t.
Western NC college programs adjust after disruption of Helene
Colleges and universities in Western NC faced physical damage; loss of power, water, communications or roads; or damage to students’ homes.
NC legislators commit $5 million to emergency election measures
NC General Assembly increases number of counties and size of appropriation for emergency election measures after Helene.
Keeping health operations going in a disaster. Western NC hospitals two weeks after Helene.
Hospitals and medical staffs across NC counties reeling from Tropical Storm Helene have battled difficult conditions to provide care.
Misinformation creates confusion about federal, NC storm response
Lies, rumors create misleading narrative about disaster aid, fueled by election-year politics. Many political leaders debunk misinformation.
HCA and nurses union reach contract deal in the midst of disaster response
After months of negotiations and a vote to strike, but no work stoppage, HCA and nurses union agree on 3-year contract at Mission Hospital.
Two weeks later. Taking stock of storm recovery across Western NC, county-by-county.
CPP reporters talked with public officials or leaders in business, health and education in each NC county about their recovery from Helene.
‘Just mayhem.’ Working to reopen national forests after Helene.
US Forest Service and conservation groups work to shore up and reopen national forests and assist nearby NC communities after Helene.
No place to stay. Helene deepens housing crisis in Western NC.
Western NC storm survivors contend with uninhabitable homes, potential evictions, costly housing market and lack of local shelter options.
Those taken. NC nears final tally of Helene deaths, county by county.
Buncombe County acknowledges substantial overcount in earlier numbers as NC chief medical examiner’s office completes official death count.
Mill town in limbo. Helene leaves sale of closed Canton paper mill in doubt.
Potential for new jobs with sale of paper mill that closed in 2023 had brought hope to Canton. Damage from Helene could derail deal.
‘Give them their voice in this election.’ Early voters in mountains brave long lines after Helene.
CPP talks with early voters in five NC mountain counties. Despite surviving Helene, they have flocked to the polls in unprecedented numbers.
Ingles reels from storm damage. Food options in NC mountains limited.
Storm damage to distribution center and stores has ripple effects on Western NC areas that rely on Asheville-based Ingles for food and jobs.
‘Facing a deep threat.’ Helene survivors in Avery County determined to recover.
Avery County residents experienced devastation to property and roads during Helene, but are working together to recover. Plus a photo essay.
Justice disrupted. Western NC courts adjust to deal with damage, backlog.
NC has made special provisions for courts and inmates have been moved around due to Helene, but some county courts face long-term challenges.
Lawmakers direct Western NC counties to add early voting sites
General Assembly nearly united in mandating more early voting sites. Measure will really only affect Henderson and McDowell, GOP strongholds.
What kind of aid is FEMA providing in Western NC?
Don’t believe the rumors and social media hype about what FEMA is and isn’t doing to provide aid the Helene survivors in North Carolina.
Woes of major retailers after Helene create challenges in East Asheville
A cluster of East Asheville major retailers and shops along the Swannanoa River were impacted by Helene, affecting the community’s recovery.
Students’ mental state a concern as Helene survivors return to class
Schools at all levels face challenges in bringing NC students back, ensuring they are emotionally able to learn following Helene.
Why NC neighborhoods far from the mountains flooded after Helene
Homes on Mountain Island Lake and Lake Wylie experienced devastating flooding as rainfall channeled into the Catawba River after Helene.
Tourism economy of Western NC hopes to weather the loss of October after Helene
With October a make-or-break month for tourism economy of NC mountains, Helene hit at worst time possible. Businesses hope to survive.
Helene put NC mountain counties on cash-only basis, catching many unprepared
Cash may be a key item to stock up on ahead of future storms after outages force many businesses to reject card payments for extended period.
Mountain celebrity claims coverup of massive Helene death toll. Why he’s wrong.
Reality TV star Eustace Conway falsely claims government hiding thousands of bodies after Helene. Plus update on real NC county death counts.
Aftermath of Helene making Western NC survivors sick
From lack of potable water to exposure to sewage, mold and dust particles, the storm left behind public health headaches for NC mountains.
Helene’s devastation creates mental health struggles for many NC survivors
In Western NC, with limited psychiatric services and a culture resistant to seeking help, experiences of Helene create mental health crisis.
Damaged infrastructure creating challenges for social services in NC disaster counties
Damaged roads, displaced people and spotty internet create headaches for NC county DSS agencies protecting children and others after Helene.
NC Cherokees struck by Helene, mobilize tribe’s resources to aid broader recovery
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians sees effects to tourism and agriculture after Helene, but uses tribe’s resources to send aid elsewhere.
Conditions after Helene could make NC mountain wildfires difficult to contain
Loss of infrastructure, accumulation of storm debris could fuel wildfires, make it difficult for firefighters to reach blazes in Western NC.
NC municipal water systems score wins after Helene. But work far from over.
After nearly two months, several NC mountain municipal water systems have lifted boil water orders. But infrastructure still needs work.
Getting back on track with rail in NC disaster area
Tropical Storm Helene derailed train lines in NC mountains. With repairs expected to take months, limited rail impairing region’s economy.
‘Worst’ year ever for farms in North Carolina
NC farms face bitter harvest after drought and storms. Many farmers thankful 2024 is ending. Mountain farmers need donations, not loans.
Helene damage costs in NC more than $53 billion. Who will pay is unclear.
Mounting costs from storm damage, economic losses and expected repairs continues to mount. Also the latest county breakdown in lives lost.
Did homes along lake have to flood? Residents and Duke Energy disagree.
Federal agency hasn’t yet weighed in on whether Duke’s timing of water releases from dams near Mountain Island Lake was managed properly.
Asheville’s economy still reeling from impact of storm, water loss on tourism
Restaurants and hotels are happy that potable water is back, but they took a beating that may cripple Asheville’s economy for months, as jobless rate soars.
NC storm relief dollars depend on political deal-making in DC, Raleigh
Expected federal appropriations measure the best bet for NC storm relief dollars in 2024 beyond rainy-day fund moves in state bill.
NC mountain housing woes headed for crisis, months after Helene
An already difficult housing market in Western NC has grown worse due to storm. Slow relief, high rents, unlivable homes drive homelessness.
How much of Helene’s rainfall was due to climate change?
Pinning down exact amount of Helene’s inland rainfall that came from climate change isn’t possible, but studies say at least 10%.
‘Crisis within a crisis.’ Food access woes growing in Western NC months after Helene.
Regional food bank adjusts after storm destroyed headquarters, but other infrastructure and economic issues frustrate food access.
‘Scars of the storm.’ Helene is gone, but its impact is far from over in Mitchell County.
Months after Helene’s devastation, Mitchell County now has the state’s highest unemployment rate. Some fear the job losses will continue.
Winter in Western NC can be bad. For Helene survivors, it’s worse.
With their homes gone, many now live in campers and tents. But with winter in full effect, finding enough propane to heat them is a struggle.
Promised lands: Western NC farmers wait for Helene aid to come. And wait.
Reeling from losses to land and livestock, many farmers are holding out for help. If it doesn’t come soon, spring may yield a bitter harvest.
Liquid courage: Duke Energy not asking for forgiveness following flooding fiasco
Faced with Helene’s deluge, Duke Energy coped by opening a dam. But excess water drowned a community, which could put Duke in hot water.
NC lawmakers to focus on Helene, the budget and, some predict, cooperation
As a new legislative session begins, Democrats and Republicans find themselves faced with old issues and an all too familiar power divide.
Instrumental in Helene aftermath, Mission Health ‘back to their old ways’
The Asheville provider’s work did much to make people forgive if not forget. But some say the goodwill engendered by Mission Health is gone.
State official: The money slated for Helene recovery isn’t nearly ‘enough’
Helene recovery is now a numbers game. With a $60 billion cost, the state and federal government aren’t expected to be able to foot the bill.
Repaired. Replaced. Reopened. Hit hard by Helene, this is what paved the way for these NC roads to come back.
Consider 1,400. That’s roughly the number of roads and bridges Helene ruined. The state faces the monumental task of fixing them all.
New Helene bill has ‘good things.’ Just one problem: It falls short of the need.
If passed, House Bill 47 — a $500 million funding package — would address several critical areas of Helene-related recovery in Western NC.
Asheville’s jobless rate — North Carolina’s highest — is ‘new and unwelcome’ territory
Months after Helene took lives and livelihoods, many Asheville residents haven’t returned to work. Some think there might be a deeper issue.
Western NC forest plan under pressure from storm devastation, lawsuit and Trump
After devastation of Helene, lawsuit says forest plan for Pisgah, Nantahala pushes too much logging, at same time Trump wants even more.
‘Blueprint for neglect’: NC Senate’s ‘modest’ budget is big on Helene recovery and income tax cuts
The 439-page budget proposal is the first major step in a months-long spending negotiation with the NC House, which will likely have changes.
People on the streets. Or in trailers. Or tents. It all points to a post-Helene housing crisis in Western NC.
While problematic, evictions aren’t as high as many feared — one of the few good signs in Western NC, which has yet to recover from Helene.
Lesson learned: How the pandemic provided a teachable moment for NC lawmakers in latest Helene relief bill
Lawmakers and educators hope a $9 million summer program will help students across Western NC better cope with Helene learning loss.
Wait for it: Badly needing Helene help, NC cities and towns try and hold on
With state funding for Helene recovery intermittent, it could take months — or even years — for federal dollars to reach Western NC.
After bungled recovery efforts with two other storms, ‘failure is not an option’ for Helene, NC lawmaker says
Can the Division of Community Revitalization, a new NC agency, succeed with storm recovery where others have failed? Many hope so.
As tourism season gets hot, Western NC hopes it won’t be a cruel summer
For a variety of businesses in Western NC, a bustling summer tourism season is sorely needed to balance their books.
NC House unites to back latest Helene recovery package
No one votes against $565 million package to aid storm-battered mountain region in NC House that’s typically divided by partisanship.
‘Not a silver bullet.’ NC dams problematic during Helene flooding, future role unclear.
Shelved plans from ’60s for TVA project in NC unlikely to make comeback. Dam failures, costs and ecology will make new dams more rare.
Political clashes complicate efforts to mitigate future floods in NC
Leaders in federal, state and local governments often have different ideas about how to mitigate future floods in NC.
Rebuild with resilience. Listening to NC people along flood-prone streams, yields insights, solutions, hope.
Despite complicated politics of trying to rebuild and mitigate against future floods, local knowledge provides path for flexible solutions.
Hunger already an issue in post-Helene Western NC. Signs it could get much worse.
NC mountains were no strangers to pockets of hunger. Helene further limited access to healthy food. New developments could cause collapse.
Looting and fraud that didn’t happen. Warnings seem to have stopped many crooks after Helene.
Law enforcement in Western NC surprised not to see looting or contractor fraud they had feared. Efforts to warn public may have helped.
Trains rolling again in Western NC. Rail repairs after Helene continue.
Norfolk Southern has train service hauling freight again in NC mountains. Additional rail lines still need major work.
Few Helene victims in NC had flood insurance. Future of federal program unclear.
Most residential and businesses property losses in North Carolina due to Tropical Storm Helene not covered by flood insurance.
Stalled Helene relief bill moves a little in NC Senate. Unclear if Democrats’ maneuver helped its chances.
A Helene relief bill that appeared stalled in one committee of the NC Senate has been move to another, perhaps improving chances of passage.
NC senators unite behind Helene recovery package. Now they have to work out differences with House.
Senators unanimous in passing $2.6 billion Helene relief package. But not all thrilled with details or sure NC House won’t seek key changes.
Compromise Helene recovery package passes NC General Assembly
After NC House and Senate each approved a Helene recovery package with key differences, both chambers reached deal, allocating $500 million.
Agreement being finalized to sustain trails project in Old Fort after Helene devastation
Trails project underway in Western NC since 2019 has been a boost to local economy in Old Fort, but was devastated by Helene.
Western NC can expect to lose population after Helene. How much remains unclear.
Loss of homes and jobs, limited options and general disruption after Helene make 5% to 35% population loss among the displaced likely.
Learning loss after Helene. A look at two rural Western NC school districts.
NC educators try to mitigate risk of learning loss. How schools in Transylvania and Ashe counties have fared since Helene.
Why was Warren Wilson omitted from NC Helene bill’s aid to colleges?
When a NC legislative conference committee put college relief back in Helene bill, it left out Warren Wilson and Johnson C. Smith.
Flash flood warning sirens in Haywood County could save lives in future storms
Deadly flash floods from Tropical Storms Fred and Helene struck parts of Haywood County, NC. New siren system offers early warning.
Cuts to BRIC program leave NC communities in limbo
Communities hit by natural disasters in NC have counted on FEMA’s BRIC grants to rebuild with resiliency. Recent cuts create uncertainty.
Bountiful harvest expected for many NC crops, but recovery from ’24 still lagging
Better weather improves crops on most NC farms, despite some flooding. But many farmers need aid that hasn’t arrived after 2024 disasters.
Contradictions and gaps in Western NC’s recovery one year after Helene
Western NC’s economy has rebounded well by some measures. But one year after Helene, limited access to food, housing and good jobs persists.
Schools and colleges in Western NC bounce back from Helene
Disruption of Helene affected students at school districts and colleges across Western NC, but most point to clear rebound a year later.
Spruce Pine making strides, facing long recovery a year after Helene
While some Spruce Pine shops have reopened and big plans are underway, many economic challenges face Western NC town a year after Helene.
Bottlenecks preventing federal Helene relief dollars from reaching those with damaged homes
Multiple levels of federal screening and approvals are slowing flow of aid for damaged homes and other NC Helene relief to a trickle.
Waiting game for recovery money due to state and federal dynamics, frustrates many in Western NC
Complex strategic and political issues have prevented NC legislators from sending more recovery money to those in need after Helene.
Damage from Helene creates conservation headaches for crucial highland spruce-fir forest
Roan Highlands in NC are home to rare spruce-fir habitat and many unique species. A year after Helene, they are at increased risk.
Contributors
This series is produced by the news team of Carolina Public Press
- Reporting by Kate Denning, Jack Igelman, Sarah Michels, Jane Winik Sartwell, Imari Scarborough, Frank Taylor and Lucas Thomae
- Photos by Colby Rabon, Jack Igelman, Sarah Michels and Lucas Thomae, with additional images provided.
- Editing by Frank Taylor and Mike Kernels
