Five months ago today, Hurricane Helene reached Western North Carolina and unleashed a wrath that our region hadn’t seen in a generation.
As we enter month six of storm recovery, Helene’s impact is still being felt on multiple fronts.
In Highlands and Cashiers multiple nonprofit organizations are still actively working to help those effected by the storm. The Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation, each of the three Rotary Clubs in the area, numerous churches and other charitable organizations are doing their best to provide some form of relief to the displaced in areas like Spruce Pine, Marshall, Swannanoa, and beyond.
While the stories of heartbreak following Helene were numerous, the stories of hope and recovery have been equally as impactful. From small businesses reopening after having their buildings gutted, to neighbors working with neighbors to rebuild homes, the aftermath of the storm has brought out the best in many communities.
One item of good news on a regional scale was announced last week when NC Department of Transportation officials put a March 1 reopening date on two lanes of I-40. The new traffic pattern will feature on lane eastbound and one west, but having any traffic flowing on one of the busiest interstates in the southeast is great news.
Locally we all saw the impact a major road closure can have on our businesses, schools, and public services. When NC106 was shut down to make major repairs, it was more than just an inconvenience for many – it was crippling.
I-40 being completely closed for five months is a similar headache on a much larger scale. The economic impact of reopening I-40 is estimated to be in the millions of dollars just in the first week.
On Friday, NC Gov. Josh Stein officially asked for $20 billion in additional disaster relief funding from the federal government. Whether or not that money will be sent to Western North Carolina remains to be seen.
But after five months one thing is clear – Helene’s impact will live on for a long time.