Helene

Grants for rental properties total just over $57 million.

When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina over a year ago, it left behind millions of cubic yards of debris in waterways. Although the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleaned a lot of it, the environmental group MountainTrue continues the cleanup effort for smaller waterways in the region.

After a difficult year, visitor data shows that tourism has been looking up this fall.

The funds will go toward rebuilding sidewalks, replacing sewer infrastructure and other projects.

Both campaigns have attacked the other for presumed failures in hurricane recovery. Whatley pointed to Cooper's work on Florence and Matthew, Cooper to Whatley's role in Helene recovery.

A year after Helene, students are wrestling with heightened mental health challenges, from anxiety and depression to an uptick in sleep issues and “externalizing behaviors” like aggression and substance use.

In this edition of Carolina Curious, DJ Simmons dives into how climate change is affecting future storms that could impact North Carolina.

UNC Health Appalachian psychologist and outpatient Behavioral Health Manager Eva Trivett-Clark is stationed in Avery County, one of the hardest hit regions in North Carolina during the storm. She shares the impacts and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as interventions and resources available to help people through it.

Eighty-six-year-old Asheville resident Mary Park Ford was at her home in the mountains when Helene hit. The storm left several trees on her roof and sealed off her road. After a year of dealing with insurers, contractors, FEMA and more, she's back in her home. She shares this look back with her son, WFDD reporter David Ford.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina CEO Eric Aft says federal budget cuts to food and farm programs mean people are getting less on each visit.