Two Years After Hurricane Helene, People Are Still Allowed to Live in Harm’s Way

Key Points:

• Two years after Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, over 250 people died statewide, with Asheville residents enduring 53 days without drinking water due to severe flooding and landslides exacerbated by saturated Appalachian soils.
• A gap in federal flood policy allows mobile home residents, like Joe Rogers in Haywood County, to repeatedly live in flood-prone areas, even after previous homes were destroyed, as local buyout programs often exclude mobile home parks.
• Outdated floodplain maps, especially in inland and rural areas, fail to reflect recent development and population growth, increasing flood risks as new constructions displace natural floodwater pathways.
• Minimum federal regulations permit vulnerable structures such as campers and recreational vehicles in floodplains, leading to repeated property damage and loss of life, highlighted by similar issues in Texas during the deadly 2025 floods.
• Efforts to improve floodplain management vary by state, with some adopting stricter rules, but many areas continue allowing rebuilding in high-risk zones, raising concerns about the adequacy of current policies to prevent future tragedies.