Parts of North Carolina remain submerged following a catastrophic flooding event over the past two days following Helene. FOX News’ Chelsea Torres is live from Asheville providing the latest updates on the devastation and cleanup efforts in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Catastrophic floods from the torrential rains of Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina causing mudslides, knocking out power, cell service, a clean water supply and leaving many residents unaccounted for.
Remnants from Helene drenched the state of North Carolina, dropping nearly 30 inches in some spots – or about 4 months’ worth of rain, in only three days.
Floodwater in Asheville.
(Chelsea Torres / FOX Weather)
In Asheville, 14 inches of rain fell over those three days, setting an all-time record. The torrential downpours sent the Swannanoa River to rise to levels higher than its record crest, set in 1791.
NORTH CAROLINA DEVASTATED BY FLOODWATERS CAUSED BY HELENE
Buncombe County officials said they’ve had over 130 water rescues and have evacuated more than 600 people from dangerous situations.
Cars drive beneath downed power lines.
(Chelsea Torres / FOX Weather)
However, some people are missing. Four homes were affected by a mudslide, and the people who were inside those homes remain unaccounted for.
“It’s shocking,” Asheville resident Russell Jones said to FOX News Multimedia Reporter Chelsea Torres. “It’s one of those things where you’re not expecting the river to just be that massive.”
Jones noted that trees had fallen on homes and cars and across roads, but people were out with chainsaws trying to clear the debris.
Downed trees take out power lines.
(Chelsea Torres / FOX Weather)
In the meantime, widespread power outages persist. Cell service is limited to the town’s hospital emergency room, the one public library in town and just one hotel still with service.
“You’ll see crowds of people outside just trying to send a text, make a call,” Torres said. “Do whatever they can to make sure someone is safe or they can let someone know that they are safe.”
As of Saturday afternoon, at least 19 lives have been lost in North Carolina due to the remnants of Hurricane Helene.