Overview

• In western North Carolina, more than 6,800 people still rely on rental assistance or temporary units, with communities like Swannanoa lacking key services such as a local post office and grocery store.
• Tennessee outlined major investments for rebuilding, including clearing 6.2 million cubic yards of debris, $42 million in recovery grants, a $240 million boost to the Disaster Relief Fund, a $110 million interest-offset fund, and $94.3 million for water infrastructure and debris removal.
• Geoscience experts report nearly 2,000 landslides tied to Helene’s extreme rainfall and warn of heightened future risk, urging better landslide mapping and public awareness across the Appalachian region.
• Housing gaps remain pronounced for renters and lower-income residents, with philanthropy filling some needs and individual cases highlighting shortfalls, including a Vietnam veteran in East Tennessee who lost his home and remains without a permanent residence.
• Official tallies place Helene among the costliest and deadliest U.S. hurricanes in decades, with at least 250 deaths and an estimated $78.7 billion in damage, reinforcing calls for long-term mitigation and infrastructure upgrades.