Residents of western North Carolina are facing a desperate situation after Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeastern U.S., leaving behind a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of at least 116 people in six states. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida, caused widespread damage and flooding, leaving many communities isolated and without basic services like water and power.
In the mountain city of Asheville, located in Buncombe County, 30 people lost their lives and over 1,000 have been reported missing. The county sheriff, Quentin Miller, stated that the death toll is expected to rise as rescuers and emergency workers reach the isolated areas that have been cut off by collapsed roads and failing infrastructure.
“Everything’s gone,” said Samuel Giles, a resident of Asheville, to NBC affiliate WRAL. The situation is dire for residents in the area, especially those living in the Hillcrest Housing project, who have been without basic services for days.
“It’s survival right now,” Giles added.
The destruction caused by Hurricane Helene has left the city of Asheville and its surrounding areas in a state of chaos. Many main routes into the city, including Interstate 40, have been washed away or blocked by mudslides. The city’s water system has also been severely damaged, leaving residents with no choice but to scoop creek water into buckets in order to flush their toilets.
Despite the devastation, the people of Asheville are coming together to support each other during this difficult time. In one neighborhood, where a wall of water ripped away all the trees and left behind a muddy mess, people are sharing food and water and comforting each other.
“That’s the blessing so far in this,” said Sommerville Johnston, a resident of the neighborhood, as she stood outside her home which has been without power since Friday. She plans on treating her neighbors to venison stew from her powerless freezer before it goes bad.
Others in the community are lining up for fresh water at Mountain Valley Water, a water seller, with whatever containers they can find. Derek Farmer, who brought three gallon-sized apple juice containers, explained that he had been prepared for the storm but after three days without water, he is now feeling nervous.
“I just didn’t know how bad it was going to be,” Farmer said.
The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina is unlike anything the region has seen in decades. Rebuilding from such widespread loss of homes and property will be a lengthy and difficult process. The storm has upended life throughout the Southeastern U.S., with deaths also reported in Florida and Virginia.
Video footage shows the extent of the damage in Lake Lure, a picturesque spot tucked between the mountains outside of Asheville. The lake is covered in debris, including overturned pontoon boats and splintered wooden docks.
Helene made landfall in northern Florida as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday and quickly moved through Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, bringing with it torrential rains that caused widespread flooding.
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials reported that hundreds of roads were closed across western North Carolina and that over 1,000 people are currently seeking shelter in the region. Governor Roy Cooper urged residents to avoid travel for their own safety and to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles. Search teams have been deployed throughout the region to help locate stranded individuals.
Meanwhile, in Asheville, several dozen people gathered on high ground to find a signal on their phones, a rare commodity in the area. Many took the opportunity to send a simple message to their loved ones: “I’m OK.”
“Is this day three or day four?” asked Colleen Burnet. “It’s all been a blur.”
The storm unleashed the worst flooding in a century in North Carolina, with some areas receiving over two feet of rain since Wednesday. President Joe Biden stated that the federal government will stand with the survivors and others affected by Hurricane Helene “as long as it takes.” He plans to ask Congress for additional funds for disaster assistance and intends to visit North Carolina later in the week when his presence would not impede live-saving search and rescue missions.
Volunteers have also
