Nearly two months after Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, the region is still hurting with a long road to recovery. While efforts to rebuild are underway, many local businesses and their employees continue to face significant challenges.
Ed Haag, a restaurant worker in the area, said the economic strain has been felt deeply by both workers and residents.
“I see a lot of people who are scared, and there’s a bit of desperation,” Haag said. “People haven’t been able to afford their rent. I have friends who switched apartments, and they’re paying last month’s rent, a new rent, and a deposit—it’s just too steep for them.”
Haag’s perspective reflects the struggles of many in the hospitality industry, where the storm’s…
