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.
State of play: At least 95 people died from Helene in North Carolina, according to figures the state provided to Axios Friday, but a local public radio station using local officials' data puts the number at 125.
Tens of thousands of students across the southeast attend school in districts that remain closed after hurricanes Helene and Milton — some with no set date to reopen.
The big picture: Natural disasters, like the COVID crisis, can leave long-lasting marks on children's physical, mental and academic well-being. As school districts rebuild, they must consider how recurring absences can undermine student success.
