Avery County and the Town of Banner Elk remain under a state of emergency as of Oct. 18 due to wind and flood damage. Residents are asked to stay off the roads unless travel is essential. The countywide curfew of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. will remain in effect until further notice.

The number of people casting ballots on the first day of early in-person voting in presidential battleground North Carolina exceeded the first-day total four years ago — even as Hurricane Helene recovery continued in the mountains.

More than 400 locations in all 100 counties were expected to open on Thursday for the 17-day early vote period.

Nearly 90 people remain missing in North Carolina nearly three weeks after Hurricane Helene brought historic rainfall to the southeastern state. While significant progress has been made to reopen impassable roads and restore power and water systems,

At least 95 storm-related deaths have been recorded in the state, a total that's still “expected to rise over the coming days," the governor's office said

Before Hurricane Helene, had you stopped by one of the many breweries, art galleries, or award-winning restaurants in Asheville, North Carolina, and spoken with anyone who lives in these parts — including me — most would have told you they felt pretty safe from climate disasters.

Early voting begins in the battleground state of North Carolina on Thursday, as the western part of the state still feels the impacts of Hurricane Helene’s flooding three weeks later. More than 400 voting locations in the state’s 100 counties were expected to open Thursday for the early voting period,

At least 81 people are to still missing in western North Carolina weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the United States’ southeast. Speaking at a press conference, Governor Roy Cooper said that the individuals are still missing in the western part of the state.