Asheville, North Carolina, flooded as the devastating toll of Hurricane Helene becomes more clear

The U.S. Southeast grappled Sunday with rising death tolls, a lack of vital supplies in isolated, flood-stricken areas and the widespread loss of homes and property while the devastating toll of Hurricane Helene became more clear and officials warned of a lengthy and difficult rebuild.

A North Carolina County that includes the mountain city of Asheville, reported 30 people killed due to the storm, pushing the overall death toll to at least 84 people across several states.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper predicted the toll would rise as rescuers and other emergency workers reached areas isolated by collapsed roads, failing infrastructure and widespread flooding.

He implored residents in western North Carolina to avoid travel, both for their own safety and to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles. More than 50 search teams spread throughout the region in search of stranded people.

“Many people are cut off because the roads are impassable,” Cooper said. Supplies were being airlifted to the region around Asheville, a city in western North Carolina's mountains known for its arts, culture and scenery.

One rescue effort involved saving 41 people north of Asheville. Another mission focused on saving a single infant. The teams found people through both 911 calls and social media messages, North Carolina Adjutant General Todd Hunt said.

The storm upended life throughout the Southeast. Authorities were rushing to airlift supplies and restore communications and roads in flooded Asheville on Sunday as residents along the storm-battered Florida coast gathered for church services.

Hurricane Helene roared ashore with 140 mph (225 kph) winds in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane late Thursday. From there, it quickly moved through Georgia, where Gov. Brian Kemp said Saturday that it “looks like a bomb went off” after viewing splintered homes and debris-covered highways from the air. A weakened Helene then soaked the Carolinas and Tennessee with torrential rains, flooding creeks and rivers and straining dams.

Several million were still without power Sunday afternoon. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster asked for patience as crews dealt with widespread snapped power poles.

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[carolrmontoya]

It's hard here. My friends lost their home to the Swannanoa River.

[jameslong]

So very sad to see....God bless you and I will help as much as I can.

[jeffhampton]

Asheville is over for at least 3 years. 😢

[lorrainemarcheski]

BS….. she’s been one of them for decades!! 😂 she will NEVER bite the hand that supports her.

[JGldmn]

Forecasts showed DAYS in advance the deluge coming. There should not have been one single person there that was taken by surprise. All of them should have headed for other cities with their pets and valuables.

[billyevans]

Have to improve infrastructure to avoid this damage

[doloresturnwall]

Overconsumption….wasteful.., you reap what you sow.

[pevvyndrake]

Names random names some more names....?

[igit_]

The good news is that less than 6% of American households actually have flood insurance.

Flood insurance is a rip off! Just save your money and rebuild with your own money, which is probably what everyone is doing and things will be fine!