The package includes $480 million for immediate needs, including $75 million to replace private roads and bridges. RALEIGH, N.C. — On Monday, the North Carolina Senate unanimously approved a $700 million recovery package for citizens in the western part of the state affected by Hurricane Helene. The approval of House Bill 1012 comes after WCNC Charlotte reported last week that state lawmakers were deadlocked over how to deliver the next wave of Helene relief. In May,…

Three people are dead and a regional airport was heavily damaged after powerful winds, including a tornado, swept across the upper Midwest. ENDERLIN, N.D. — Powerful winds — including a tornado — that swept across parts of the upper Midwest left three people dead and a regional airport heavily damaged, officials said Saturday. Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner said at a press conference that two men and a woman were killed at two separate locations…

Interstate 40 is expected to be closed for about two weeks due to a rockslide and high water, three months after reopening from Helene, according to TDOT. COCKE COUNTY, Tenn — Just three months after I-40 reopened following damage by Hurricane Helene, a new slide and high water closed it again. This time for at least two weeks.  The Tennessee Department of Transportation said there are four slide sites, the biggest one is near Exit…

The storm was downgraded slightly before making landfall, from a powerful Category 4 to a Category 3. PUERTO ESCONDIDO, State of Mexico — Powerful Hurricane Erick made landfall in Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca early Thursday as a major hurricane before moving inland and weakening as it dumped heavy rain, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The hurricane’s center was located about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north-northwest of Punta Maldonado around midday. Its maximum…

Forecasters say Erick is expected to cause potentially destructive winds and life-threatening flash floods over a wide area. PUERTO ESCONDIDO, State of Mexico — Southern Mexico’s Pacific coast was braced for a Thursday morning impact with the approach of Hurricane Erick, which was upgraded to an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 early Thursday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The major storm threatens to unleash destructive winds near where the eye crashes ashore, flash floods and…

Forecasters say Erick is expected to strengthen further before crashing into the coast with potentially destructive winds and life-threatening flash floods. MEXICO, — Hurricane Erick powered up into a Category 3 major hurricane Wednesday evening as it bore down on the southern Mexico coast, threatening to unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge on the region in coming hours, forecasters said. Swiftly strengthening from a Category 1 hurricane hours earlier, Erick had…