N.C. Environment News and In-Depth Reporting

Helene Poses Big Problems for Mail Service in Western NC

Mud covers the floor of the U.S. Post Office in Lansing, N.C. after Hurricane Helene. (Photo by Bryan Olin Dozier/NurPhoto via AP)

From medication to ballots, the U.S. Postal Service is a critical delivery method.

Helene Left Some NC Elder-Care Homes Without Power

A person drives away after purchasing a new generator in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Hurricane Helene knocked many elder-care facilities off the power grid, but state rules don’t require them all to have backup generators.

‘The Semester is Not Done’

Flooding from the Tuckasegee River caused water to rise under Western Carolina University student Aubrie Ruscetti's off-campus house. (Photo courtesy of Cora Haste)

As many colleges cancel classes after Hurricane Helene, students worry about the state of their campuses.

A Disaster No One Saw Coming

Flooding from Hurricane Helene covers Swannanoa River Road. (Photo by Storms Reback)

We knew Hurricane Helene was going to bring rain. We didn’t foresee it delivering devastation so widespread its impact will be felt for years.

Asheville Residents Describe Rescue From Swannanoa River

Water rises toward the first floor of apartments in an Asheville building where residents were evacuated by boat. (Photo courtesy of Lemuel Robinson)

Neighbors in an Asheville apartment building gathered on the second floor as floodwaters rose on Friday.

As Floods Subside, Uncertainty Reigns

The bridge crossing the Swannanoa River on Blue Ridge Road in Black Mountain was swept away by flood waters. (Photo courtesy of Rey Castillo Jr.)

In Black Mountain, residents encounter blocked roads, short supplies, and unimaginable damage.

Evacuees Take Refuge in Fletcher Ag Center-Turned-Shelter

The emergency shelter has taken in 300 evacuees from areas hard-hit by Hurricane Helene’s flooding.

How to Get Help After Hurricane Helene

A stop sign can barely be seen above the floodwaters from Hurricane Helene in Morganton, N.C. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

Here’s what to know about state and federal assistance programs in the wake of the catastrophic storm and flooding in Western North Carolina.

A Homegrown Plant With a Taste For Blood Gets New Life

Tiny Venus flytraps growing in the wild in Brunswick County. (Madeline Gray for The Assembly)

The Venus flytrap has survived numerous adversaries over the years, from encroaching development to bureaucratic delays.

Lionfish: Invasive and Delicious

Sarah and James Doss, owners of Rx Chicken and Oysters, speared a lionfish during one of their Atlantic dives.

Wilmington restaurateurs take to the sea to spear lionfish, a voracious predator—and now a signature dish.