This episode of Up First presents a Sunday story from NPR, featuring Laura Sullivan's investigation into the challenges communities face when rebuilding after natural disasters. The story begins in Western North Carolina, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and then broadens to include examples from Houston after Hurricane Harvey. Sullivan highlights the struggles of displaced residents, the complexities of government aid, and the conflicts between immediate economic needs and long-term resilience. The report questions whether communities are adequately preparing for future storms, examining issues such as outdated building codes, insufficient flood insurance coverage, and the impact of development in flood-prone areas. The episode sets the stage for subsequent parts of the story, which will explore rebuilding efforts in New York and New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy, and further investigate the influence of politics and profits on reconstruction.
