Hurricane Helene: A year later, Florida and Appalachians still bear scars - UPI.com

1 of 8 | It's been a year since Hurricane Helene flooded the southern Appalachians after tearing into Florida's Big Bend and Keaton Beach, Fla. (pictured), as a Category 4 storm. File Photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob Hancock/U.S. Air National Guard | License Photo

It's been a year since Hurricane Helene flooded the southern Appalachians after tearing into Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 storm. Helene's wrath was measured by staggering numbers that had never before been recorded.

This spring, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name "Helene," but parts of the South still aren't back to normal.

Hurricane Helene as seen on water vapor satellite from Sept. 26-28, 2025 (NOAA/CIRA)

The recovery from the storm has been one of milestones. Parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway are still closed after Helene caused 57 landslides on the scenic byway last September, but an important 26-mile stretch just reopened earlier this month.