Helene

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has granted more than $7 million to residents affected by Helene in Avery, Ashe and Watauga counties.

Banner Elk officials still want people to stay off the roads unless travel is essential, and they are asking those who planned to visit in October to reschedule.

Federal disaster workers paused and then changed some of their hurricane-recovery efforts in North Carolina, including abandoning door-to-door visits, after receiving threats that they could be targeted by a militia, officials said, as the government response to Helene is targeted by runaway disinformation.

Watauga County public schools remain closed for a third week following the devastation of Helene in western North Carolina. Officials say damaged infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to resuming classes. 

About 23,500 of the 1.5 million customers that lost power in western North Carolina still lacked electricity on Sunday. Without it, they can’t keep medicines cold, power medical equipment or pump well water.

Vice President Kamala Harris is meeting with Black leaders in North Carolina on Saturday and will attend church in the state ahead of a rally, according to her campaign. The weekend trip is her second time in the battleground state after it was struck by Hurricane Helene.

Ashe Memorial Hospital was operational throughout Hurricane Helene and is in prepared to meet all health care needs in the area.

Communities in western North Carolina continue to assess the devastating damage from Helene while working to provide resources for those isolated without food and power. In addition to the latest updates, this blog contains ways to assist in those efforts.