One year later, Hurricane Helene survivors still waiting for aid

(NewsNation) — It’s been one year since Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding and destruction, and western North Carolina was among the hardest-hit regions.

While tourists are beginning to return to some destinations in the area, many communities are still struggling to rebuild, and some say they have yet to receive any federal assistance.

Gresham Buchanan, whose home was left uninhabitable after Helene, told “NewsNation Live” on Thursday that the family is still waiting for help.

"We're still waiting because we have so much going on," he said. "We’re still living like we were in November, December."

Hurricane Helene was a life-changing storm causing devastation across the Southeast last September. The Category 4 hit the Florida Peninsula, bringing a record storm surge to Tampa Bay and winds up to 140 mph. 

At landfall, it tore down trees, caused major flash flooding from Georgia to the Carolinas and into Tennessee. 

New data reveals that, in total, at least 249 people died, the bulk of those in North Carolina, making this the deadliest storm to hit the United States since Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago.