Additional Coverage:
North Carolina Schools Resume after Hurricane Helene
Schools in Watauga County, North Carolina, including Valle Crucis Elementary, have reopened for the first time since Hurricane Helene devastated the region. The elementary school was filled with muddy water and school buses were submerged. Classes are now being held in a nearby conference center.
Superintendent Leslie Alexander emphasized the importance of getting students back to school for normalcy. However, many students are coping with trauma, including the loss of loved ones or their homes.
Forty-five schools in 28 North Carolina districts were impacted by Helene. Five districts remain closed, with some not expected to reopen until November. At least 98 people died in the state, and over 217 fatalities occurred across six states.
Counselors are available at schools to support students and staff. One student, Georgia, expressed relief at returning to school to connect with classmates.
Georgia’s parents, James and Heather, shared that while their daughter may not be learning academics, she is gaining valuable lessons in survival.