And western North Carolina has been thrust into the national spotlight this year because of Helene. Despite Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm loss of about 6,000 trees to mudslides during the storm, the White House chose the 18-and-a-half-foot national tree at the Avery County farm.

In a county ravaged by Tropical Storm Helene, farm workers cut down a Christmas tree bound for the White House's Blue Room.