Historic floods from Helene devastate western North Carolina

All roads in western North Carolina should be considered closed after record-breaking flooding from Helene devastated many mountain communities. Rivers in Asheville and other communities are still in major flood stage.

There were scenes of devastation from around Asheville and many other towns in the region. Hundreds of roads are blocked by downed trees or mudslides or are washed out.

“Stay home, stay safe and check on your neighbor. We’re Buncombe strong and we will get through this,” said Taylor Jones with Buncombe County EMS.

Gov. Roy Cooper on Saturday asked the federal government for a major disaster declaration for western North Carolina, which could help get federal aid to the area quicker. 

“Helene brought pain and destruction to our state and we’re working to get help to people quickly,” Cooper said. “As waters recede and winds die down, families and communities will need assistance to clean up and recover and this request can help speed up the process.” 

The French Broad River crested at more than 24 feet, with floodwater covering homes and businesses along the river. 

The Swannanoa River at Biltmore Village crested at almost 23 feet, with water covering buildings and cutting off the area from the rest of the city.

Video from residents showed creeks swell into raging rivers, lifting homes from their foundations and washing them down with floods.

County officials said people did die in the floods there, but would not say how many. It could take days before the true toll of the flooding in the mountains is known.

Interstate 40 and Interstate 26 are still impassable. Downed trees, washed out roads, mudslides and landslides closed the interstates and hundreds of smaller roads. 

Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses remain without power in the region. The city of Asheville and many other communities are under boil water advisories.

Asheville, Hendersonville and other communities enacteed nighttime curfews.

Cellphone service for large swaths of the mountains is cut off.

“We do not have an estimate for power restoration or cell tower restoration, but please only call 911 for emergencies,” said Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder. Most traffic lights are also out in the county.

“Please be patient, it is coming,” Pinder said.

Officials asked people to stay off the roads and away from floodwaters. The EMS director compared the flooded rivers to “toxic spillways” with hazardous material flowing through the water. 

“Today’s flooding from #Helene is worse than the Great Flood of 1916, the flood of record in Western North Carolina,” North Carolina State Climatologist Kathie Dello said on X.

“Please, keep the good people of Western North Carolina in your thoughts. They will be recovering from this generational storm for a long time,” she said.