Hurricane Helene devastated most of Western North Carolina, neighboring parts, and some areas of Virginia and Tennessee. According to the NC Department of Insurance, “the mountains were impacted the most with severe flooding and landslides, completely ruining many communities.” The damages that resulted from Hurricane Helene have made it one of the deadliest disasters in the United States in the 21st century, with at least 249 deaths. Thousands of roads and bridges were washed away, cutting communities from accessing emergency response and recovery teams.

Since the hurricane, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved more than $203 million in housing, with more than $19 million in housing grants to help pay for home repairs, temporary housing, and home replacement. In addition to the help from FEMA, around 24 Disaster Recovery Centers have been opened in affected areas.