North Carolina
'Thankful': 2 months after Helene, Western North Carolina survivors move into temporary housing
OLD FORT, N.C. (WTVD) — With the keys to her new home in hand, Kelli Hart has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. She and her husband Tom, who is a disabled Vietnam veteran just moved in.
“These are the keys to my happy place,” said Hart. “I’m just trying to unpack some boxes, get the table ready and festive, so I can get in the mood to cook a big old turkey and dressing and all the good stuff he likes.”
Eyewitness News got a tour of the two-bedroom RV that the Harts will call home. They have spent the past two months living in churches, hotels and even their car.
“You really start appreciating those things when you’re living in a car and have to go to the bathroom,” she said.
Helene survivors getting temporary housing at RV Park
The couple lived in North Cove, North Carolina when Hurricane Helene caused the nearby creek to rise over its banks. The fire marshall came knocking at her door.
“He said it’s time to go now. I said what? He said that creek is a river and unless you want to be part of it, you better grab him and let go. We left with just the clothes on our back,” Hart said.
The couple lost everything, including their cat Ally. They had no flood insurance and neither did Johnny Bass and his wife.
“You don’t buy flood insurance in the mountains. Know what I mean,” Bass exclaimed. “The house is still standing, but the water went three and a half feet deep completely through it all.”
The Bass is just a few doors down from the Harts at Old Fort RV Park, a temporary housing community for Helene survivors provided by FEMA.
According to FEMA, 33 families have temporary homes to call their own in Western North Carolina as of Thanksgiving and nearly 500 families have been approved for housing. FEMA is paying hotel costs for almost 12,000 survivors in the state. The federal agency has already paid more than $ 940,000 to help survivors with their rent.
The data was released as Hurricane Helene brought mass destruction to North Carolina, with many people losing their homes, businesses and lives. The federal government was accused of not responding to hard hit areas and it became political in the weeks leading up to the presidential election.
SEE ALSO | Christmas tree industry in North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene destruction in WNC
“I’m a devout Republican and it doesn’t matter. I’m out here shoulder to shoulder with devout Democrats,” said John Safar, developer and owner of the RV park.
He is allowing FEMA to support survivors with temporary housing for up to 18 months. The park is large enough for 50 mobile homes.
“Everybody is out here together trying to make this thing happen as quickly as possible to get these people into a nice safe environment. That’s all it’s about,” he said.
It’s that spirit that survivors in this community are embracing as they prepare for their first Thanksgiving in their new homes.
“I have my be thankful plates because we are very thankful,” said Hart.
Helene survivor thankful for temporary housing, first Thanksgiving since the storm
SEE ALSO | 1 month after Helene, hard work continues in Western North Carolina
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North Carolina
North Carolina Republican operative shaping the state’s early voting plans is reassigned
North Carolina state Auditor Dave Boliek has reassigned a staffer working on state election preparations following reporting illustrating how the longtime Republican operative was using his position to shape county’s early voting plans.
North Carolina
North Carolina man accused of shooting and killing another tourist inside of a Broward Airbnb, police say
A Fourth of July trip to South Florida ended in tragedy after a 21-year-old North Carolina man was shot and killed inside a Hollywood Airbnb, according to police.
Investigators say Jaydon Williams, 21, was shot multiple times early Saturday morning at a vacation rental in the 1900 block of Funston Street. Hollywood police have arrested 21-year-old Devian Blount, also of North Carolina, and charged him with first-degree murder.
Officers responded to the home around 1 a.m. Saturday, following reports of a shooting. They arrived to find Williams suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital, where he died.
According to the arrest report, Williams was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend at the time of the shooting. She told investigators she heard someone accuse Williams of stealing, followed by a verbal argument and several gunshots.
The incident has left neighbors shaken in the typically quiet Hollywood community. While some residents noted they were aware that the home operated as a short-term rental, others expressed concerns about the property’s transient nature.
“That’s a bad idea to me to have an Airbnb in this neighborhood where so many people and kids live,” said neighbor Dorell Green. “Different types of people come and go. You don’t know who is coming or leaving.”
Ivette Santana, another resident, said her primary concern is the violence. “I don’t care about the Airbnb,” Santana said. “My problem is the shooting over there.”
Blount is being held without bond at the Broward County Jail.
CBS News Miami has contacted Airbnb to determine if the property remains in operation. We are also working to contact the property’s owners.
The video above is a live stream of WBTV and affiliated programming, and may not be directly related to the article below.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – A sickness causing explosive diarrhea across the United States has been reported in North Carolina.
State health officials confirmed on Tuesday, July 7, that at least 145 cases of cyclosporiasis had been reported in North Carolina since May 1.
According to the state’s health website, cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite known as cyclospora. Sickness is often brought on by consuming food or water that is contaminated with the parasite.
The state’s website says it usually takes a week for symptoms to show up after consuming the contaminated food or water.
Among the symptoms are:
- Watery diarrhea with frequent, sometimes explosive bowel movements
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Stomach cramps/pain
- Bloating
- Increased gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Health officials said cyclospora is often associated with fresh herbs and produce that are served uncooked. They said because those items often go uncooked, it is imperative for them to be cleaned prior to eating.
According to the CDC, healthy people who contract cyclosporiasis usually recover without treatment but may have symptoms for a few days to a month or longer. In other cases, the sickness can be treated with antibiotics.
As of mid-June, the CDC reported cyclosporiasis cases in 17 states. At that point, no deaths had been reported.
Also Read: One US state is now reporting 700+ cases of ‘explosive’ diarrhea linked to parasite
Copyright 2026 WBTV. All rights reserved.
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