Helene blamed for 3 deaths in North Carolina, historic flooding and at least 2 tornadoes

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Three deaths in North Carolina are among the at least 44 across the South in the wake of Helene, a powerful storm that battered Florida before moving north and swamping western Carolina.

A man died after a tree fell on his Charlotte home as Helene swept through, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the area. Anthony “Tony” Taylor was a married father of four, ABC affiliate WSOC reported.

Another person died in a wreck in Catawba County, and ABC affiliate WXLV said a 57-year-old man died in Yadkin County when a tree fell on his car as he was driving Friday morning.

The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes in the ABC1 viewing area. A twister touched down in Rocky Mount on Friday afternoon, injuring 15 people and damaging 14 buildings. A tornado also struck in Sampson County, leaving trees and power lines down on Helltown Road near Garland.

“The priority now is saving lives,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a Friday media briefing. “Helene is causing life-threatening flash, flooding numerous landslides and down trees, causing power outages. Flooding will continue through the weekend and some areas and may even occur in areas that don’t typically flood,” he said Thursday. “With the rain they’ve already been experiencing before Helene’s arrival, this is one of the worst storms in history for parts of Western North Carolina.”

Watch Governor Cooper’s full news conference on Tropical Storm Helene

Cooper said he deployed 285 soldiers and airmen, as well as over 130 high-water vehicles and 30 swift-water rescue teams. The teams are out of New York, Delaware, New Hampshire, Michigan and Oklahoma.

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All North Carolinians should be weather-aware and prepared. You can check if your area is at risk for flooding here. You can also check the nearby lake levels.

See here what schools in the Triangle are closed or delayed on Friday.

Across the Triangle

On Meadow Drive In Fuquay-Varina, firefighters freed a woman who was trapped in her bedroom because of a fallen tree. Another person and a dog in the home also escaped injury.

In Raleigh, a tree fell on an apartment complex off Wake Forest Road.

WATCH | Tree falls on apartment complex; Rain in Wake County

Another tree also fell on a home in Morrisville. The resident said she was shaken up but was not injured.

Dire situation in western NC

According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, all roads in western North Carolina should be considered closed.

Haywood County Sheriff’s Office told people Friday morning to evacuate Cruso Clyde, Canton, and other “low-lying areas” in Waynesville, which is west of Asheville. In a social media post, it said: “Flood waters are extremely dangerous. Getting caught up in floods may result in injury or death. LEAVE NOW. Climb to higher ground. Do not drive through water.”

Power Outages

Many were without power Friday morning, according to the Duke Energy power outage map.

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