Tropical Storm Helene devastated Asheville and Western North Carolina, destroying roads, downing power lines and demolishing entire towns. See aerial images of the damage.

New before and after satellite photos paint a grim picture of Hurricane Helene’s devastation in parts of western North Carolina that have been hard to access after the storm swiped away the state’s roads and bridges.

Under pressure to control housing costs, Republican lawmakers rejected standards meant to protect against disasters, experts say.