The devastation left by Hurricane Helene has prompted a rapid response from not only state and federal agencies, but an array of nongovernmental organizations seeking to help with the massive relief and recovery effort.

The challenge before them is immense. In western North Carolina, the relief effort has been complicated by the storm’s destruction of roads connecting rural communities, leaving residents isolated and leading responders to fly in supplies by helicopter – or to even strap them to mules.

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