Ads
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene was felt in Asheville, North Carolina, where the remnants of the storm caused widespread flooding, power outages, and communication disruptions. The devastation left many residents stranded, unable to reach loved ones or receive help. The city’s largest mountain city was left reeling from the impact of the storm, with roads blocked and power lines down.
Over 400 North Carolina highways were impassable on Saturday as floodwaters receded, revealing the full extent of the damage. Governor Roy Cooper stated that supplies were being flown in to help those in need. The storm caused widespread destruction, with at least seven reported deaths in North Carolina alone and a total of 57 across several states.
One of the harrowing stories to emerge from the storm was that of Janetta Barfield, a nurse at Asheville Mission Hospital. She was rescued from her vehicle after it became engulfed in floodwaters while she was leaving an overnight shift. Barfield described how she saw another vehicle successfully cross a flooded area and felt confident in doing the same. However, her vehicle became stuck, and water quickly filled the front seat to chest level. A quick-thinking police officer came to her rescue, pulling her to safety.
As the storm continued to wreak havoc, gas stations were forced to close due to power outages, leaving only a handful open with long lines of customers. The usually bustling tourist and cultural center of Asheville was eerily quiet as floodwaters inundated Biltmore Village and the River Arts District, where many galleries, boutiques, and breweries are located.
The power outages affected over 700,000 residents in North Carolina, including 160,000 in Buncombe County, where Asheville is located. Major interstates like I-40 and I-26 were impassable in many areas, and a state transportation map showed most routes into Asheville and the surrounding mountains were blocked. The North Carolina Department of Transportation urged residents to consider all Western North Carolina roads as closed.
Communications were severely impacted, with no cellphone service in Asheville and no estimate for when it would be restored. Emergency services were working to assess the extent of the damage and reach those in need. County EMS Director Van Taylor Jones confirmed that there had been loss of life but could not provide further details due to communication disruptions.
Local authorities imposed a curfew from 7:30 p.m. on Friday to 7:30 a.m. on Saturday to ensure public safety. Transportation services were also suspended, further isolating residents who were without power or water. The authorities advised residents to boil all water for consumption, as at least one major water pipe had broken during the storm.
Many residents were left in a state of uncertainty, unable to contact friends and family or receive help. Francine Cavanaugh of Atlanta expressed her concern for her sister, son, and friends in Asheville, whom she had not been able to reach since the storm hit.
The storm caught many residents and officials off guard, surpassing their preparations and expectations. Asheville Sheriff Quentin Miller acknowledged the unexpected magnitude of the storm and the challenges it brought. The city was left in a state of chaos, with residents struggling to cope with the aftermath of the natural disaster.
Asheville faced a long road to recovery in the wake of Hurricane Helene, with the community coming together to support those in need and rebuild their city. The resilience of the residents shone through as they faced the challenges brought by the storm, determined to overcome the devastation and emerge stronger as a community.
