ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Widespread devastation from Hurricane Helene has come to light, revealing a landscape of splintered houses, crushed cargo containers, and mud-covered highways, marking one of the worst storms in U.S. history. The death toll has tragically surpassed 125.
A crisis has unfolded in western North Carolina, where residents, stranded by washed-out roads and a lack of power and cellular service, lined up for fresh water and a chance to contact loved ones, days after the storm.
At least 128 deaths across six Southeastern states have been attributed to the storm, a number that has been rising as a clearer picture of the devastation emerges from Florida’s Gulf Coast to the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia.
Crews work to clean up the tons of sand and debris pushed onto Gulf Boulevard from Hurricane Helene storm surge, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla.
North Carolina’s governor, Roy Cooper, has predicted that the toll will continue to rise as rescuers and emergency workers reach areas isolated by collapsed roads and widespread flooding. During a briefing, White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall suggested that as many as 600 people remain unaccounted for, with fears that some may have perished.
Government officials and aid groups are working to deliver essential supplies by air, truck, and even mule to the hard-hit tourism hub of Asheville and its surrounding mountain towns, where at least 40 people have died.
The destruction and desperation are unimaginable. A flattened cargo container rests atop a bridge, and the landscape is littered with overturned boats and splintered docks. A woman, cradling her child, is among many who have gathered on a hillside, sending simple texts to loved ones: “I’m OK.”
The North Carolina death toll is accompanied by horrific stories of people trapped by floodwaters in their homes and vehicles, with some tragically losing their lives to falling trees. A courthouse security officer was submerged in his truck, and a family of three, including a 6-year-old boy, drowned after their rooftop rescue was thwarted by the collapse of their home.
The Riverside RV park was flooded from the overflowing Catawba River after torrential rain from Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C.
A vehicle sits outside of its garage after storm surge from Hurricane Helene, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Madeira Beach, Fla.
Rescuers have managed to save dozens, including an infant and others trapped on a car in Atlanta. In a daring rescue, over 50 hospital patients and staff in Tennessee were airlifted from a rooftop.
How some of the worst-hit areas are coping
Several main routes into Asheville have been washed away or blocked by mudslides, including Interstate 40. The city’s water system has been severely damaged, forcing residents to scoop creek water into buckets to flush toilets.
In one neighborhood, residents have been sharing food and water, comforting one another as a wall of water ripped away trees, leaving a muddy mess. “That’s the blessing so far in this,” said one resident, who has been without power since the storm.
Others have lined up for over a block at a water seller to fill containers. The desperation for clean water has become a pressing issue.
A stop sign can barely be seen above a flooded parking lot after torrential rain from Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Morganton, N.C.
Officials have warned that the rebuilding process from this widespread destruction will be lengthy and challenging. The storm has upended life across the Southeast, with deaths reported in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Video footage has shown a mass of debris, including overturned boats and splintered docks, covering the surface of Lake Lure, a picturesque spot outside Asheville.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in northern Florida as a Category 4 storm, quickly moving through Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, bringing torrential rain that flooded many areas.
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials reported that hundreds of roads are closed across western North Carolina, with shelters housing over 1,000 people. The governor has urged residents to avoid travel for their safety and to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles.
Waiting for help and searching for a signal in North Carolina
In Asheville, many have gathered on high ground in search of a cell signal, a rare and valuable commodity in the aftermath of the storm.
The storm has caused the worst flooding in a century in North Carolina, with some areas receiving over 2 feet of rain since the storm began.
Jose Salazar dumps debris as he helps gut a property that took on a storm surge in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, in Steinhatchee, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024.
President Biden has stated that the federal government will support the survivors in the Southeast “as long as it takes.” He is expected to request additional disaster assistance from Congress and plans to visit North Carolina later this week.
Federal search and rescue teams are on the ground, with additional teams and supplies of food and water arriving. Volunteers have also come forward, with some bringing mules to deliver essential supplies to hard-to-reach areas.
Why western North Carolina was hit so hard
Western North Carolina has suffered severe devastation as the remnants of Helene encountered the higher elevations and cooler air of the Appalachian Mountains, leading to even more rain. The area’s valleys made it particularly vulnerable to flooding, especially as the ground was already saturated before the storm.
Climate change has exacerbated conditions that allow storms to rapidly intensify, leading to more severe weather events. The implications of this storm and others like it may signal a need for more robust disaster preparedness and response strategies.
Destruction from Florida to Virginia
In Florida, the storm caused significant flooding at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where workers were forced to evacuate animals. Georgia’s governor stated that the storm “literally spared no one,” with many residents still without power. In South Carolina, at least 25 deaths have been reported, marking Helene as one of the deadliest storms to hit the state in decades.
Tropical Storm Kirk forms and could become a powerful hurricane
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Kirk has formed in the eastern Atlantic and is expected to become a powerful hurricane in the coming days. The storm is currently located far from land, but its development is a reminder of the ongoing hurricane season and the need for preparedness.
