Payam Javan: Residents of Julianne Johnson’s neighborhood in Asheville are enduring difficult conditions after Hurricane Helene ravaged the Southeast last week, leaving them without power. Families have resorted to using propane stoves for cooking and dry erase boards to keep up with local news while waiting for electricity to be restored. Johnson, a mother and land conservation worker, received a text from Duke Energy promising power restoration by Friday night, but by midday, power lines were still scattered across the streets. The community has been pulling together, supporting each other with information and first aid resources since the storm hit on September 26 as a Category 4 hurricane.

The hurricane has left widespread destruction, killing over 220 people across six states, including 72 in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Nearly 700,000 homes and businesses remain without electricity, primarily in the Carolinas and Georgia. Duke Energy, the main provider in North Carolina, aims to restore power to most customers by Sunday, but some areas with severe damage may remain in the dark for another week. Utility workers are facing significant challenges, including washed-out roads and missing infrastructure, as they try to set up new poles and restore power lines across the region.

The damage extends beyond electricity. Water utilities have been so severely impacted that some federal officials are calling the situation unprecedented. More than 1.8 million people are under a boil water advisory, and some residents, like those in Asheville, are hauling water from creeks just to flush their toilets. With schools closed, hospitals under strain, and businesses unable to fully reopen, the region faces a long road to recovery. Meanwhile, in Florida and North Carolina, rescue crews continue their efforts, navigating hazardous conditions to reach those still missing and isolated after the storm.