It has been six months since Hurricane Helene unleashed biblical flooding and tree-snapping winds across the Southeast, and areas such as hard-hit Black Mountain, N.C., continue to struggle.

North Carolina lawmakers agreed Wednesday to spend another $524 million on still-pressing needs from Hurricane Helene's historic flooding nearly six months ago, with an emphasis on home and private road repairs,

Dry weather and millions of trees knocked down by Hurricane Helene last year are creating a long and active fire season in the Carolinas.