Nearly 100 Dead as Hurricane Helene Ravages North Carolina and Florida; Asheville, NC Sees "Apocalyptic" Damage

A terrible storm.

I asked in a comment, but let me ask here: If you're a reader in the path of the hurricane, please check in and let us know if you're safe.

At least 99 people have died from Hurricane Helene. FOX Weather correspondent Robert Ray reports the latest on the devastation from Asheville, North Carolina.

One Asheville, North Carolina resident sounded the alarm as his community battles the devastation left by Hurricane Helene, detailing the "apocalyptic weekend" as the death toll continues to rise while millions are left without power and water.

"It's been an incredibly apocalyptic weekend for all of us here," Asheville resident Gregory Harrison said. "Almost no gas. There is almost no cell service. There's limited power. There is limited food. There are people who are trying to find potable water to feed their families, to have water for their kids."

Officials in Asheville are still trying to rescue residents who have been trapped by the historic flooding over the weekend, which has left many without access to power, running water and cell service.

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Buncombe County communications director Lillian Govus urged people in surrounding areas to avoid coming to the affected communities to maximize search and rescue efforts.

"Right now, we need people to not come here," Govus told Lawrence Jones. "We are still in an active search and rescue phase. We have active flooding now. Like you said, it will take just a little bit of rain and we'll have more landslides, more mudslides."
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Govus said her community is no longer recognizable after the deadly storm.

"I live out in Black Mountain. What is there now does not resemble anything of the community where I lived before," Govus said. "Homes are completely gone. Power lines are destroyed. The poles are snapped in half and dangling on other places."
30 dead in Asheville, NC area after Hurricane Helene Video

"Houses are completely washed away. We don't have running water, and so that's a really big public health crisis for us right now," she continued.

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Another Asheville resident, who owns an art studio that was luckily spared, said she moved to North Carolina after Hurricane Ian in hopes of evading another catastrophic storm.

"I came from Florida after Hurricane Ian. I thought this is the area to be safe and this is not safe," she said. "They said this... could happen, but it was hard to believe," she continued.

I relaxed over the weekend, too. But I'm not "the President."

Before the hurricane hit (and killed 100), a comedian filmed a parody weather report. This might not be funny given how deadly the storm was. But maybe you'll find it amusing.

posted by Ace at 01:24 PM

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