Since Hurricane Helene made landfall in September 2024, Riverbird Research of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce found through its surveys that while recovery gained momentum, businesses face ongoing challenges.

This year’s Cyber Risk in the Financial Sector Conference brought together experts from industry, government and academia to discuss the growing threat of cyber risk in the financial sector, and the need for cyber risk management practices to continuously adapt and evolve in the face of ever-growing risks.

Erika Bell and Hunter Jones describe the importance of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond connecting with small towns and rural communities throughout the Fifth District, including those in western North Carolina recovering from Hurricane Helene. Bell is a community development regional manager and Hunter is a senior business analyst. In addition, Russ Harris of the Southwestern Commission Council of Governments and Nathan Ramsey of the Land of Sky Regional Council reflect on the value of their partnerships with the Richmond Fed and other regional organizations, both before and after the hurricane.

Situated between the beaches and the mountains of North Carolina, Robeson County is the largest county in the state by land area. Nearby Scotland County is named in honor of the Scottish settlers who occupied the area in the 1700s. Both counties are known for their beautiful natural resources and historical sites. Our Community Conversations team visited the region to learn more about how the local business and tribal communities are working to improve opportunity for their counties.

This post highlights the short-term and potential long-term impacts of Hurricane Helene on Western North Carolina's housing market while also exploring how pre-existing market conditions may interact with the storm's impact.