"Thousands of students across western North Carolina lost their homes a year ago when Helene hit with some of the most vicious floods, landslides and wind ever seen in the state's Appalachian region, once considered a "climate haven." Across the state, more than 2,500 students were identified as homeless as a direct result of Helene, according to state data obtained by The Associated Press."
"At school, Natalie sometimes had panic attacks when she thought of her ruined home in Swannanoa. "There were some points where I just didn't want people to talk to me about the house - or just, like, talk to me at all," Natalie said. While storm debris has been mostly cleared away, the impact of the displacement lingers for the region's children. Schools reopened long before many students returned to their homes, and their learning and well-being have yet to recover."
Hurricane Helene produced severe floods, landslides and wind across North Carolina's Appalachian region, destroying homes and displacing thousands of residents. More than 2,500 students across the state were identified as homeless directly because of the storm. Many children returned to gutted houses with exposed wiring, broken windows and tarps, creating ongoing safety and stability problems. Students experienced panic attacks, social withdrawal and other mental health impacts while attending school. Schools reopened before many students could return home, leaving academic progress and well-being impaired. Recovery remains uneven in rural, low-income communities already facing food insecurity and housing affordability challenges.
Read at ABC11 Raleigh-Durham
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]