Haywood County offered many more services in Spanish for its Latino community during Helene than it had in past emergencies. The community’s experience demonstrates the challenges counties have in meeting the needs of all their constituents.

When Darlene Kurkendall closes her eyes, she imagines the walls of her house falling away. She sees the people in her community — friends, neighbors, family — swept out of sight by a horrendous heap of moving earth.

BPR spoke with several residents in the rural outpost of Henderson County about recovery of a community that has changed, but that they refuse to abandon.

Emergency officials struggled to warn people about the danger of Hurricane Helene – moving ahead, they’re split on how to best keep people safe during future floods.

Blue Ridge Public Radio is collaborating with AP, Honolulu Civil Beat, CalMatters, and Centro de Periodismo Investigativo in Puerto Rico to examine how school communities are recovering from the disruption of natural disasters.

Residents of Swannanoa gathered for a training that aimed to help them prepare in case of another disaster.