The aftermath of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina has taken a devastating toll, with the death count in the Asheville area rising sharply to 35 people. Survivors in the region are recounting the terrifying impact of the storm, with bodies being discovered in trees and under rubble across Buncombe County.
Hurricane Helene, which first made landfall last Thursday, has ravaged the Southeast, leaving 120 people dead nationwide. Floodwaters and mudslides washed away homes, roads, and entire communities in the mountains surrounding Asheville, cutting off residents and making rescue efforts nearly impossible.
Black Mountain, a small village near Asheville, was hit hard by the storm. Residents like Alyssa Hudson described the horrifying scene, stating, “There were bodies in trees. They were finding bodies under rubble.” Hudson, whose home was destroyed, managed to escape before the worst of the flooding but later saw videos of her submerged house posted online. The storm left her and her boyfriend with little to salvage, as they lost most of their belongings, including furniture, personal documents, and business equipment.
Others were less fortunate. Reports from survivors detail harrowing experiences, with residents fighting to escape rising waters and many stranded for days without power or supplies. Corbin Weeks, a local college softball coach, recounted watching rescue crews cut through mobile homes trapped in mud, just in time to save families inside.
In Asheville itself, critical infrastructure was severely damaged. The city’s water system was compromised, leaving residents to rely on creek water for basic needs. The historic town of Chimney Rock, known for being the filming location of movies like “Dirty Dancing,” was almost completely wiped out, with local officials reporting that every shop and restaurant in its center had been washed away.
The scale of the disaster has left thousands displaced, and emergency crews are still working to reach remote areas. The current damage estimate for Hurricane Helene stands at $34 billion, with recovery efforts expected to take months.
