The Lingering Crisis: How Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath Exposes Government Failure to Protect Vulnerable Students

When 12-year-old Natalie Briggs returned to the ruins of her home in Swannanoa, North Carolina, she faced an overwhelming reality few children should know. The wreckage left behind by Hurricane Helene was not just debris—it was a shattering disruption to her life and education. Months later, she still experiences panic attacks at school, haunted by the storm’s destruction.But Natalie’s story is not unique. Across western North Carolina’s Appalachian region—once hailed as a climate refuge—more than 2,500 students were rendered homeless by Helene's catastrophic floods, landslides, and winds. Schools reopened long before many families could rebuild or even return home, leaving...