Asheville is facing a severe crisis as officials scramble to deliver essential supplies, including water and food, to areas ravaged by Hurricane Helene. The storm has resulted in a death toll nearing 100, with at least 91 fatalities reported across several states, including 30 in Buncombe County, where Asheville is located.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has warned that the death toll may rise as rescuers reach areas isolated by collapsed infrastructure and flooding. “We are working to airlift supplies to the region around Asheville,” said Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder, who assured residents that food and water would be delivered by Monday. “We hear you. We need food and we need water,” she added.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has left a trail of destruction throughout the Southeast. In addition to the fatalities in North Carolina, there were deaths reported in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. Officials urged residents in western North Carolina to avoid travel to ensure emergency vehicles can access affected areas. More than 50 search teams are actively searching for stranded individuals, with some rescue efforts already underway, including one operation that rescued 41 people north of Asheville.
President Joe Biden described the storm’s impact as “stunning” and indicated plans to visit the affected regions this week, contingent on not disrupting recovery efforts. The federal government is mobilizing resources, with Biden pledging support to the states affected by the storm.
Hurricane Helene made landfall late Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend region, bringing with it 140 mph winds. The weakened storm subsequently traversed Georgia before unleashing heavy rains across the Carolinas and Tennessee, causing significant flooding.
The floodwaters have necessitated hundreds of water rescues, notably in rural areas like Unicoi County in East Tennessee, where helicopters were used to evacuate patients and staff from a hospital rooftop. As of Sunday night, over 2 million utility customers remained without power, with South Carolina experiencing the highest outage rates. Governor Henry McMaster urged patience as utility crews work to restore power amidst extensive damage.
In the midst of this crisis, heartbreaking accounts have emerged. Jessica Drye Turner from Texas shared her anguish after her family members, stranded on a rooftop in Asheville, drowned when their shelter collapsed under rising floodwaters. “I cannot convey in words the sorrow, heartbreak, and devastation my sisters and I are going through,” she lamented.
While supplies are being dispatched to Asheville, road closures from mudslides have hampered efforts. Authorities are also responding to rising tensions over dwindling resources, with law enforcement preparing to deploy officers to areas where disputes over water, food, and gas have been reported.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell emphasized the ongoing nature of the search and rescue missions in western North Carolina, stating, “Many communities are cut off just because of the geography.”
Biden has approved a disaster declaration for North Carolina, unlocking federal funds for those affected. Meanwhile, in Florida, communities are beginning to recover as residents gather for outdoor church services, emphasizing resilience in the face of devastation.
As the recovery process begins, forecasts indicate that a new tropical depression in the Atlantic could soon intensify into a formidable hurricane, raising concerns for further potential disasters.