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Hurricane means fewer North Carolina sweet potatoes

Nov 22, 2018
The state provides most of the nation's fresh supply; Florence wiped out 20 percent of the crop.
Jimmy Burch, owner of Burch Farms in North Carolina, said he lost about a third of this year's sweet potato crop because of rain from Hurricane Florence.
Andy Uhler/Marketplace

Strong demand for cleanup crews in North Carolina

Oct 18, 2018
After recent storms, residents are still struggling to get back to normal amid mountains of debris.
“This is heart wrenching, you know?” says Randy Campbell, who with his crew clears debris after disasters. “We just come in and help clean it up and make some money doing it.”
Andy Uhler/Marketplace

Strong demand for cleanup crews in North Carolina

Oct 18, 2018
After recent storms, residents are still struggling to get back to normal amid mountains of debris.
“This is heart wrenching, you know?” says Randy Campbell, who with his crew clears debris after disasters. “We just come in and help clean it up and make some money doing it.”
Andy Uhler/Marketplace

Hurricane and political seasons collide on The Weather Channel

Sep 14, 2018
Viewers of The Weather Channel may have noticed a lot of campaign ads this week as the midterm elections approach and more people tuned in to track Hurricane Florence. According to NCC Media, the number of political advertisers on the channel grew from 59 last week to 83 this week. “It’s a smart media strategy,” […]
A tattered U.S. flag flies as the outer bands of Hurricane Florence make landfall Friday in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Tariffs on imported materials could push up post-disaster costs

Sep 13, 2018
Hurricane Florence, currently tearing along the Southeast coast of the U.S. could bring wind gusts of 80 mph. The governor of North Carolina said that “tens of thousands of structures are expected to be flooded.” The post-storm costs could be high as communities buy up the drywall, lumber, and steel to rebuild. The price of […]
Waves created by Hurricane Florence are seen along Cherry Grove Fishing Pier on September 14, 2018 in North Myrtle Beach, United States. 
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

What happens when the government declares a state of emergency?

Sep 13, 2018
How declaring a state of emergency allows states to prepare for natural disasters.
In this NOAA satellite handout image, shows Hurricane Florence it just makes landfall off the coast of the U.S. in the Atlantic Ocean on Sept.13, 2018.
NOAA via Getty Images

Evacuees without cars face a storm of expenses

Sep 12, 2018
More than 400,000 people without cars are in the path of Hurricane Florence, many of them low-income.
Mike Pollack and his wife, Meredith, move a dock box from their dock in Wilmington, North Carolina, Sept. 13 as Hurricane Florence approaches the area.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images

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Hurricane Florence is a big test for FEMA. Is it ready?

Sep 11, 2018
Hurricane Florence is expected to hit several states along the Eastern Seaboard, including North and South Carolina, and Virginia, on Thursday. More than a million people have been ordered to evacuate. Federal agencies are scrambling to coordinate the relief supplies that are probably needed in the days ahead. This will be the Federal Emergency Management […]
 Contractors apply a FEMA tarp to a home damaged by Hurricane Maria and without electricity on Dec. 20, 2017 in Morovis, Puerto Rico. 
Mario Tama/Getty Images