Nearly 200 days after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, thousands of households remain without permanent housing, according to the state auditor’s latest recovery dashboard. Only six state-issued temporary housing units are occupied across the affected region, a stark reminder of the slow-moving recovery effort from what officials call the state’s worst natural disaster.
A North Carolina legislative committee approved a proposal Wednesday that would allow families of those missing in natural disasters to obtain a declaration of death without waiting the current seven-year period.
Enrollment has increased at three state universities in western North Carolina, which were severely impacted by Hurricane Helene last fall. Appalachian State University, the University of North Carolina Asheville, and Western Carolina University all reported higher student enrollment compared to last spring, according to the UNC System.
