The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has left North Carolina in a state of devastation, with the death toll now standing at 133 across six states as of Tuesday (October 1). The storm, which has been described as a “monster” and a “worst-case scenario” for western North Carolina, has caused catastrophic flooding and unimaginable damage.
The hurricane disrupted power and infrastructure, leaving over 1.5 million customers without electricity and hundreds of roads closed, particularly in the Carolinas. This has significantly hampered the delivery of essential supplies. In some areas, supplies are being delivered by mules and air, with people hiking for hours to assist loved ones.
Asheville Regional Airport has resumed commercial flights, which were disrupted due to Helene’s impact. However, the airport has been serving as a drop point for aid to be distributed across the hard-hit area. The North Carolina Air National Guard transported over 100,000 pounds of emergency relief supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Monday using a C-17 cargo aircraft.
President Joe Biden is expected to fly over Asheville, North Carolina, on Wednesday, where the damage from Hurricane Helene has so severely narrowed access to the city that the president’s motorcade cannot make it in, according to Mayor Esther Manheimer.
Asheville still does not have power, water, or cell phone service in most areas, and residents are in need of basic supplies. The city’s rivers have never been as high as they were in this storm, and the flooding has prompted an unprecedented number of swift water rescues.
The death toll from Helene is expected to rise as authorities slowly access communities that have been isolated by cell service outages and inaccessible roads.
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