Two years after Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina, debris still clutters areas like Jeannine Robertson’s yard, with items such as sheet metal and household objects scattered around. The hurricane, which hit in September 2024, caused severe flash floods and landslides, resulting in over 250 deaths and widespread destruction. Cleanup efforts have been ongoing, costing over $600 million, yet debris remains in rivers and on land. The challenging mountainous terrain complicates these efforts, requiring helicopters to remove large items from riverbeds. This situation highlights the increasing frequency and difficulty of disaster cleanups in the U.S. due to climate change.
QUESTION: How might the ongoing impact of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene influence the way communities prepare for future events?
Years after storms, clean-up crews meticulously separate the sentimental from the wreckage
