Avery County and the Town of Banner Elk remain under a state of emergency as of Oct. 18 due to wind and flood damage. Residents are asked to stay off the roads unless travel is essential. The countywide curfew of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. will remain in effect until further notice.

The number of people casting ballots on the first day of early in-person voting in presidential battleground North Carolina exceeded the first-day total four years ago — even as Hurricane Helene recovery continued in the mountains.

It’s been more than three weeks since Hurricane Helene battered parts of the Southeast. The hardest-hit state was North Carolina, where more than 90 people died, 81 people remain unaccounted for and residents face a long road to recovery.