Overview

• A ProPublica and The Assembly analysis found higher-income homeowners in several hard-hit rural counties received larger FEMA housing awards than lower-income households, while lower-income owners in urban Buncombe County typically received more with help from local nonprofits.
• Most attractions and businesses have reopened, yet tourism revenues are still 20% to 40% below summer 2024 levels and Biltmore visitation is about 25% lower, with some hospitality operations facing staffing strains.
• Major infrastructure fixes will take years: the washed-out I‑40 corridor won’t be fully repaired until 2028 despite a recent $1.15 billion federal release, and sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway only reopened in the past two weeks.
• Helene caused at least 108 deaths in North Carolina and nearly $60 billion in damage statewide, and Asheville residents went about 53 days without potable water as Buncombe County logged extensive housing destruction and damage.
• State and local leaders say federal recovery dollars have been slow to arrive after December’s congressional allocation, with Gov. Josh Stein seeking $13.5 billion more and mayors calling for FEMA reforms, as groups like BeLoved Asheville build homes and clear debris to bridge gaps.