Western N.C. News and In-Depth Reporting

‘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.

The Long Road to Recovery

A passerby checks the water depth of a flooded road in Morganton. (Kathy Kmonicek for the Associated Press)

North Carolina has about $5.5 billion reserved for emergencies, but it will take several weeks to assess storm damage.

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.

Riding the Solar Coaster

(Photo courtesy of the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association.)

Installers are navigating new state rules that have put a damper on rooftop solar.

Yeti or Not, Here They Come

Bargain hunters at the Bigfoot festival in Marion. (Cornell Watson for The Assembly)

What is it about North Carolina that attracts the Sasquatch-curious?

River Rescue

Volunteers with the Environmental Quality Institute use a net to catch invertebrates. (Mike Belleme for The Assembly)

The governor keeps asking for more money to protect waterways. Citizen scientists are taking up the slack.