Helene Aftermath: Widespread Devastation, Ongoing Recovery

One year after Hurricane Helene, communities from Florida’s Big Bend and the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry up through western North Carolina continue to bear lasting scars as recovery and rebuilding remain underway. Helene struck the Florida Big Bend in late September 2024 as a Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds and historic storm surge, prompting a state of emergency in 61 counties. After-action reviews praised some operational gains while recommending clearer social-media communication policies. In Asheville’s River Arts District, artists and businesses have slowly returned amid a debate over Urban Land Institute recommendations to “relocate and reimagine” the district versus local-led Unified RAD efforts focused on river-centered resilience. Across the region, remembrance events are planned and many homeowners remain displaced a year later amid insurer disputes over low damage estimates versus contractor appraisals, leaving some families with tarped roofs and large out-of-pocket costs as journalists continue to document long-term recovery challenges.