Drowned by hurricane, remote towns now struggle for water

As the region struggles to recover from the storm that killed at least 226 people across the US southeast, dumping a deluge onto the North Carolina mountains, one fundamental issue is of immediate concern: getting access to water.

This aerial view shows flood damage wrought by Hurricane Helene along the Swannanoa River on October 3, 2024 in Asheville in the US state of North Carolina. (AFP)