The country has rallied around western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene left disaster-struck mountain towns and cities struggling to get the help and resources they need. As local teams have sprung to action,

As Hurricane Helene ripped through Asheville, the floodwaters created in its wake were swift in their destruction. In addition to the many homes completely destroyed during Helene, dozens of local small businesses were devastated by floodwaters — some will take weeks or months to recover,

Caravans of food, water and supplies were moving into western North Carolina on Monday as residents and local officials grappled with devastation never before seen in the region. The big picture: Hurricane Helene has left officials in six Southeastern states struggling to respond to the widespread destruction it caused after hitting Florida as a Category 4 storm last week,