Helene devastated towns in western North Carolina. Three weeks later, dozens of people are missing and thousands are without power. Volunteers, donations and search and rescue teams have poured in.

Three weeks after Tropical Storm Helene turned quaint creeks and rivers into deadly forces of nature in western North Carolina on Sept. 27, statistics still feel inadequate to describe the depth of its wounds.

North Carolina municipalities such as Asheville and Blowing Rock and communities in Tennessee may see a credit downgrade in the wake of Hurricane Helene, S&P Global Ratings said in a report on Thursday.

When schools reopen for the first time since Hurricane Helene unleashed a deluge on Asheville, teachers will be ready to help kids with academics and emotions.

Asheville City Schools chief of staff Dr. Kimberly Dechant on how their district is working to reopen and provide meals and water to students.

Tens of thousands of students in the Southeast are dealing with school disruptions after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc so severe — on homes, campuses and municipal power and water systems — that some districts have no idea when they will reopen.