Photo Stories from the American South

Sean Rayford 6/28/25 Sean Rayford 6/28/25

Bat Cave Family Rebuilds After Hurricane Helene

Nine months after Hurricane Helene, a Bat Cave family rebuilds their pottery tool business from the banks of the Broad River.

Sean Rayford 5/19/25 Sean Rayford 5/19/25

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein requests $891 million in state relief as federal Helene aid slows.

Sean Rayford 10/12/24 Sean Rayford 10/12/24

On the ground in Sarasota, Venice, and Englewood as Hurricane Milton hits Florida's Gulf Coast.

Sean Rayford 10/6/24 Sean Rayford 10/6/24

Nine days on the ground from Steinhatchee, Florida to Bat Cave and Chimney Rock, North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

Sean Rayford 9/2/23 Sean Rayford 9/2/23

On the ground in Perry and Keaton Beach as Hurricane Idalia makes landfall on Florida's Big Bend coast.

Sean Rayford 9/5/21 Sean Rayford 9/5/21

Photos: Hurricane Ida pummels Louisiana