North Carolina students displaced by Hurricane Helene confront a year of uncertainty and upheaval
A year after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, over 2,500 students remain displaced, struggling with homelessness, disrupted schooling, and emotional trauma. Families face unstable housing while schools cope with closures and resource gaps. Though debris is cleared, Helene’s long-term impact lingers — reshaping childhoods, education, and community stability in the Appalachian region once considered a climate refuge.
A year after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, over 2,500 students remain displaced, struggling with homelessness, disrupted schooling, and emotional trauma. Families face unstable housing while schools cope with closures and resource gaps. Though debris is cleared, Helene’s long-term impact lingers — reshaping childhoods, education, and community stability in the Appalachian region once considered a climate refuge.
