Challenging recovery ahead for Boone, NC following Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene killed and destroyed far and wide — from Tampa to Atlanta to Asheville, North Carolina, its high winds, heavy rains and sheer size created a perfect mix for devastation.

The storm made landfall late Thursday along a largely undeveloped expanse of pine trees and salt marshes on Florida's Big Bend coast, but it immediately displayed its far-reaching power several hundred miles away. As of Sunday morning, at least 64 people were confirmed killed.

Tampa Bay was inundated with a massive storm surge that sent water up to people's attics. Atlanta got more than 11 inches of rain, more than any 48-hour period in recorded history. So many trees were toppled in South Carolina that at one point more than 40 percent of the state lost electricity. In North Carolina, dams were in jeopardy of failing and entire communities are cut off by floods. Floodwaters submerged a hospital in Tennessee so quickly that more than 50 patients had to be rescued from the roof via helicopter.

How did a single storm unleash destruction so far away?

Dan Brown, a specialist at the National Hurricane Center near Miami, said Helene had all the attributes that make a storm widely destructive.

It was large, about 350 miles (560 kilometers) wide. It was strong, with winds reaching 140 mph (225 kph) when it made landfall late Thursday, creating widespread storm surge. It carried heavy rains. And it was fast, speeding north at up to 24 mph (39 kph) offshore and 30 mph (48 kph) inland.

He compared the geographic scale of Helene's destruction to 1972's Hurricane Agnes, 1989's Hurricane Hugo and 2004's Hurricane Ivan.

“Systems that get very powerful, large and fast moving unfortunately do bring the potential for impact and damage well inland,” Brown said Saturday. #Helene #Weather #Boone

[lindameggers]

I met a young family with babies in the Jonesborough TN Walmart and asked if they had cell phone service? They said they came from Boone NC to call family. He was a police officer and told me what it was like in Boone. If you ever read this, I'll be praying for you and your family. You guys take care of yourselves and thank you for serving. 🙏🏻☺️

[sarahclark]

Boone has a large homeless community I used to be a part of. I pray for all those up on the hill by the Walmart and in other places in town, the shelter, and surrounding towns in the woods.

[trinasyoutube]

Praying 🙏 for our students that are stuck with no family & resources.

[lilsisasu]

It’s so heartbreaking to see this. My sister went to ASU and it’s so sad to see so many familiar places in ruins. 😢

[thewhizbang]

Everything right outside of Boone STILL has no power…. Only the City of Boone, everything else is still un-passable and there is no timeline on when power or water will be restores

[paulwiggington]

Has everyone been found ...
I was told people were missing. (??)