Death toll rises amid Helene relief

(This article will be updated. Read our earlier coverage here.)

Relief efforts continue in Asheville and the Western North Carolina area where a major disaster due to Tropical Storm Helene has left communities devastated, roads impassable and thousands without power. There were only estimates Sunday evening about the extent of the destruction, with the full scope of Helene devastation not expected to be known for some time.

Check back for live updates as they roll in throughout the day Monday.

Billy Graham’s The Cove to be closed until at least November

The Cove, Billy Graham’s training center located in East Asheville, will be closed until at least Nov. 1 due to damages caused by Tropical Storm Helene, according to a Sept. 29 social media post.

“More specifics will be available in the coming days,” the post said. “We appreciate your patience and prayers while we navigate these unprecedented circumstances.”

— Aaron Nelsen

How can I help?Here’s how to donate to those affected by Hurricane Helene.

President Biden set to visit North Carolina

President Joe Biden said he will visit storm-ravaged North Carolina on Wednesday as communities in the western part of the state recover from devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.

Biden announced the travel plans as he received an update on FEMA’s hurricane relief efforts at a Monday briefing from the Oval Office.

“I’m going to North Carolina on Wednesday. It’s planned now,” Biden said, adding he would be landing in Raleigh, North Carolina, for a meeting at the Emergency Operations Center before later conducting an aerial tour of damaged communities.

Read the full story here.

— Joey Garrison, USA TODAY

Transylvania County: The latest on emergency response to Helene

Transylvania County issued an update to its emergency response to Helene on Monday, Sept. 30.

The public curfew will remain in effect from 8 p.m.-8 a.m. for all of Transylvania County Other key takeaways include:

Transylvania County Schools will be closed all of this week. County Emergency Management is working with the school system to establish feeding sites for children and coordinate food distribution.
Duke reported more than 420 technicians in Henderson and Transylvania Monday, Sept. 30, with power is expected to be restored to a majority of locations by Friday, Oct. 4.
Residents are asked to conserve water, as progress is made to restore water service and boil water advisories remain in place for some areas. Those in need of water are encouraged to reach out to their local fire department.
Solid waste disposal sites for debris and spoiled food opened Monday, Sept. 30, throughout the county. Locations include Anchor Baptist, Pisgah Forest Convenience Site, See Off Convenience Site, Zion Church in Rosman, and the parking area between County Tax Office and Library in Brevard.
I-40 is closed toward Tennessee and headed east, while I -26, NC 280 and US 64 are open.
Shelters remain open at the Transylvania County Parks and Recreation Center and the Ag Center at the Asheville Airport.

Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests remain closed

The U.S. Forest Service announced Monday, Sept. 30, that all recreation sites will remain closed in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests until assessments can be conducted safely.

“Our first priority is the safety of our staff and visitors, and conditions on both forests are simply too hazardous for crews to begin clean-up efforts,” the news release stated. “The public can help us in our efforts to reopen both the Pisgah and Nantahala by staying off both forests until our work is complete. Regardless of whether someone is an experienced hiker, camper or off-roader, forest rangers and emergency services won’t be able to reach them if something were to happen.”

Pisgah and Nantahala offices and the supervisor’s office in Asheville remain closed.

River Arts District building owner: ‘No one was expecting this’

Jannette Montenegro was caked in mud cleaning out her historic building, Cotton Mill Studios, as the water has receded in the badly flooded River Arts District.

“We tried to get out as much as we could, but no one was expecting this,” she said.

The floodwater filled up to the building’s second story, destroying its restaurant and eight artist studios. Ironically, the building built in 1893 includes a small photo gallery commemorating the 1916 flood in Asheville with an Asheville Citizen newspaper headline that read “Asheville Victims Claimed by Flood.”

Montenegro said her son’s Cuban food truck outside was destroyed, and with no insurance, he lost everything.

Montenegro said she also did not have flood insurance because of the high costs.

“I wouldn’t be able to rent to artists otherwise,” she said.

As she worked to clear mud and debris, two strangers came in to volunteer help. She said volunteers have been stopping by all day.

“That’s the spirit of this city,” she said.

— Kelly Puente

5 more deaths reported in Buncombe County, death toll now at 40

Five more deaths were attributed to Tropical Storm Helene’s record floods, Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder said during a 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, briefing. That raises the total Buncombe County death toll to 40.

Between Buncombe, Macon and Henderson counties, at least 47 people have died in the record floods.

— Will Hofmann

Damage at the Times-News office in Hendersonville

Days after the worst of Helene, the scene at the Times-News on 7th Avenue in Hendersonville was of an office in ruin. Water damaged the paper’s computers and other equipment. Puddles were still on the desks, the refrigerator was upturned and newspapers lay soggy in the upper rack of a display, nearly 4 feet off the ground.

— Aaron Nelsen

Gov. Cooper: ‘We have every resource coming into’ Asheville

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper made a stop in downtown Asheville Monday, Sept. 30, on his rounds of Western North Carolina, parts of which were decimated by Tropical Storm Helene.

Cooper, a Democrat in his last year of office after two terms, stopped into Flour, an eatery in the S&W Building, with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.

Cooper was on his way to the Asheville Regional Airport to speak to the media.

In a quick grab outside Flour, the Citizen Times asked Cooper what he was doing immediately to help the residents of Asheville. The city of some 95,000 in the Blue Ridge Mountains has been largely without power, cell service and water since the start of Helene’s advance rage of rain and flooding on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 26.

“We have every resource coming into the city, water, food, supplies,” Cooper said.

“These people are really pulling together and working hard,” he said, gesturing to Buncombe County Sheriff Chief Deputy Herbert Blake and other local and state emergency management officials.

We will have more from the governor’s press conference this afternoon.

— Karen Chávez

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Here’s what is closed

The National Park Service is continuing to assess conditions and address damage in Great Smoky Mountains National Park following Hurricane Helene.

As of Monday, Sept. 30, park staff were prioritizing assessments of high-use roads and trails as well as radio repeaters and historic structures throughout the park, according to a news release.

Several park roads, including Newfound Gap Road/U.S. 441, remain closed. Officials have no reopening estimates for closed roads. For a map of what is open and closed, visit the park’s website.

Park staff and resources are currently limited, and visitors are encouraged to reschedule their trips “for their own safety.”

Here is a rundown of what is closed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park:

Balsam Mountain area, campground and roads.
Big Creek area, campground and roads.
Cataloochee Valley area, campground and roads (including Hwy 284).
Deep Creek (the creek itself) between Indian Creek Bridge and the park boundary closed to all water activity.
Deep Creek Campground.
Foothills Parkway East.
Kuwohi Road (formerly known as Clingmans Dome Road).
Kuwohi Visitor Center.
Lakeview Drive.
Newfound Gap Road/Hwy 441.
Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
Parson Branch Road (due to Flint Gap Fire impacts).
Smokemont Campground.

Additional updates will be shared on the park website.

Hendersonville: Here’s the update

The City of Hendersonville issued various updates Monday afternoon as Helene recovery efforts continue.

Water services

All Hendersonville water customers remain under a system pressure advisory. Portions of the water system are experiencing outages and periods of low pressure in the distribution system, according to the news release.
Crews have made progress in accessing flood damage at the Water Treatment, and the plant’s ability to treat water has almost returned to pre-storm levels.
There are still multiple line breaks and leaks throughout the distribution system that crews are working to address.
Some portions of the system, including communities in the Fletcher area, Edneyville and areas east of I-26, and Saluda, are without water. As the repairs are made and reservoirs fill, the utility will begin bringing sections of the system back into water and repair line breaks, according to the news release.
Customers who have water are asked to conserve water for only essential uses until the system can be repaired and water restored to all customers.

Public safety

As Duke Energy and its contractors continue work to restore power across Henderson County, people should assume all downed power lines are live.
Many traffic lights in the city and county are still without power.

City offices

The Hendersonville City Government Offices are closed until further notice.
City Council will hold a special-called meeting at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, on the second floor of City Hall at 160 Sixth Ave. East.

Sanitation

The City of Hendersonville Public Works will begin collecting solid waste and recycling Monday, Sept. 30, throughout the day. Collection will not follow the regular schedule.
Customers should put their solid waste and recycling carts on the street, and crews will collect when they are able. Excess residential garbage in tied and secured bags placed next to carts will also be collected.
Organized brush and debris may also be left by the curb, but storm debris pickup is not guaranteed. Additional information on storm debris pickup will be provided at a later time.

Donations

Henderson County is accepting requests for supply donations for the community, through partnership with the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority. Contact [email protected] if you are interested in donating items. Requested items include water, diapers, wipes, formula, hand sanitizer and more.

Where to find information

Updates on Pisgah Brewing, Cellarest Beer Project and MANNA FoodBank

Pisgah Brewing is selling canned beer from 2-5 p.m. Monday, Sept 30, at 2948 U.S. Highway 70 in Black Mountain. The brewery is no longer distributing water.

Cellarest Beer Project announced it will open at noon daily at 395 Haywood Road. The West Asheville taproom is without water or Wi-Fi but has electricity; the public is welcome to charge devices.

On Sept. 30, MANNA FoodBank’s CEO Claire Neal posted on social media that its facility is “totally devastated” at 627 Swannanoa River Road. The public is advised to refrain from visiting for health and safety purposes. Donations may be sent at www.donate.mannafoodbank.org.

Henderson County: ‘It’s crazy how much it flooded’

Two teenaged brothers, Malachi and Malek Barber, stood shirtless in the middle of Butler Bridge Road in Henderson County Sept. 30, near what used to be the banks of the French Broad River.

Before Tropical Storm Helene brought torrential rains and wind to Western North Carolina, killing dozens in the region and leaving many without water and power, the French Broad snaked through the county’s farmland.

Now, it covers it.

“It’s crazy how much it flooded,” Malachi told the Citizen Times.

You can read Jacob Biba’s full story here.

Water distribution sites available in Buncombe County

Buncombe County will start distributing bottled water starting at 2 p.m. today, Monday, Sept. 30. A one-day supply of bottled water will be available for each individual in a household, with distribution sites operating as drive-through locations, but walk-ups will be accommodated.

The locations are:

William W. Estes Elementary School: 275 Overlook Road, Asheville
Sand Hill Elementary: 154 Sand Hill School Road, Asheville (Please enter via Acton Circle)
North Windy Ridge Intermediate School: 20 Doan Road, Weaverville
Fairview Elementary School: 1355 Charlotte Highway, Fairview

The county is working on a mobile distribution plan to reach those who are not able to make it to the sites.

Distribution efforts expected to continue in the coming days, with expanded hours and available supplies as they become available.

Assistance is also available from the City of Asheville at Pack Square Park. Drinking water will be distributed beginning at 1 p.m. until dark or when the supply runs out. Each person will be provided 1 gallon of water per person, with a maximum of 5 gallons per family. Each person who accesses the water distribution at Pack Square must bring their own container. For the safety of everyone involved, traffic will be directed around the park and the distribution site will be walk-up only.

Biden orders FEMA administrator to be on the ground in Asheville; more teams deploying to area

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has been ordered by President Joe Biden to be on the ground in Asheville “until the situation has stabilized,” FEMA announced Sept. 30. Teams from the federal agency are deploying for emergency department decompression at Mission Hospital and are currently treating patients, while another team is moving to Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine to support the emergency department.

In total, 10 federal search and rescue teams are on the ground in the region and another nine teams are on the way, for a total of 900 active personnel, FEMA said.

In total, the following is being brought to the region:

25 trailer-loads of meals.
60 trailer-loads of waters.
A C-17 cargo plane full of food, water and other commodities has arrived.

According to the news release, 200 federal ambulances have been provided to the state. The agency has also provided 40 Starlink satellites to help with responder communications and additional satellites are being shipped to assist with communications infrastructure restoration. One Starlink will be deployed per county Emergency Operations Center. An additional 18 helicopters are on standby to help deliver additional commodities to affected areas.

Further generators are on the way with 30 en route to the staging base in Mecklenburg County.

Families and people trying to get in touch with loved ones are encouraged to call 2-1-1 or visit UnitedWayNC.org to fill out a request form to add them to search and rescue efforts.

— Will Hofmann

Water distribution site announced in Asheville

The City of Asheville will start water distribution at City Hall at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30.

Each person must bring their own container, none will be provided. Each person will be provided 1 gallon of water per person, with a maximum of 5 gallons per family.

Asheville floods force residents to scavenge for water, food

The sirens have not stopped in East Asheville and just along the Swannanoa River, the path of destruction left in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene is vivid.

The water rose 26 feet, sweeping out homes, businesses and almost anything in its path, including cars, billboards, and the produce section of a nearby grocery story. The detritus of homes and businesses lay scattered along the roads and bridges spanning the rivers.

Down Swannanoa River Road, near Asheville’s Walmart, a cow had seemingly been pummeled by an overturned tractor trailer and its body bloated, the smell of death emanating from the carcass. Outside of the Aldi on Swannanoa River Road, a group of people wandered around the building, peering inside the gutted building. Some picked over the things they could salvage, mostly necessities like food, water and medicine.

You can read Will Hofmann’s full story here.

Another death in Henderson County, bringing total dead to 6

The death toll in Henderson County is now six, indicating that another person has died as a result of the historic flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene, Henderson County spokesperson Mike Morgan said Sept. 30.

He provided more information about the status of shelters in the county, noting that both are still open but the Athletics and Activities Center has been full while they’ve had people “coming and going.”

Edneyville Elementary is also open and has space, he said.

Morgan reiterated that resource hubs are opening at noon Sept. 30 and will stay open until 6 p.m. The locations are:

Etowah Elementary, 320 Etowah School Road Etowah, NC 28729
Rugby Middle School, 3345 Haywood Road, Hendersonville, NC 28791
East Henderson High School, 150 Eagle Pride Drive, East Flat Rock, NC 28726
North Henderson High School, 35 Fruitland Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Mills River Town Hall, 124 Town Center Drive. Mills River, NC 28759
Fletcher Town Hall, 300 Old Cane Creek Rd Fletcher, NC 28732

Families will receive one day’s meal and water as available, Morgan said.

— Will Hoffman

‘It’s a race against time’: Historic town begins digging out

MARSHALL, N.C. — Days after flooding devastated tiny Marshall, North Carolina, cleanup crews on Monday worked to remove thick mud and debris while business owners pulled belongings from waterlogged downtown buildings.

The historic town, set along the French Broad River north of Asheville, was slammed by a deluge that reached to the first-floor roof of some downtown buildings. It also damaged a water treatment plant across the river.

Most of the town was without power and cellular service. Marshall Mayor Aaron Haynie told ABC-13 there have been “some” fatalities but vowed to rebuild.

The damage also extended to some businesses that in recent years have become part of an artistic renewal in the downtown area. One owner said they plan to rebuild.

As excavators and equipment buzzed around him, Chad Adamowski and his friends were shoveling mud out of his tattoo and music store, hoping to tear out walls before mold set in.

“It’s a race against time,” he said.

— Chris Kenning, USA TODAY

How Helene is affecting mail service and voting

Helene hit North Carolina just days after mail-in ballots were scheduled to be sent out to military and overseas voters and to all others who requested them.

The United States Postal Service of Asheville said in an automated message that Helene “may impact the processing, transportation and delivery of mail and packages. Please allow additional time for final delivery of your item.”

As of Sep. 29, the USPS service alerts website states that, “All retail and delivery operations for facilities in the 286, 287, 288 and 289 3-digit zip code areas are temporarily suspended until further notice due to Hurricane Helene impacts.”

You can find out more, including how to track your ballot, in Sarah Gleason’s story here.

How to apply for FEMA assistance after Tropical Storm Helene

North Carolina has received Federal Major Disaster Declaration after Tropical Storm Helene tore through western parts of the state last week.

More than 430,000 people in North Carolina were still left without power as of late Sunday, following the deadly storm that destroyed homes, trapped residents, spawned landslides and submerged communities under raging floodwaters.

Was your home damaged by Helene-driven flooding and landslides? Samantha Neely has details about applying for FEMA assistance in North Carolina in this story.

5 more deaths reported in Buncombe County

Five more are dead as a result of Tropical Storm Helene’s historic flooding of Buncombe County communities, Sheriff Quentin Miller said during a 10 a.m. briefing Monday. The county now has reported 35 fatalities related to Helene.

In Western North Carolina, at least 41 fatalities have been attributed to the storm between Buncombe, Henderson and Macon counties.

— Will Hofmann

FEMA leader to visit North Carolina

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is expected to survey damage from Helene in North Carolina on Monday, according to a new release updating the Biden-Harris Administration’s response efforts.

On Sunday evening, Criswell and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall briefed President Joe Biden on the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene in multiple states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia.

As of Sunday, more than 3,300 federal employees were deployed and supporting response efforts across the impacted states. Of note in the Carolinas:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is moving generators and additional power generation equipment into the hardest-hit areas of North and South Carolina as flood waters recede and debris removal permits.

FEMA is trucking dozens of trailers containing food and water in North Carolina to support the state as it sets up care and distribution sites.

Biden intends to travel to impacted communities this week, according to the news release.

Asheville City Schools to be closed all week

Asheville City Schools has announced that schools will be closed for students and staff Monday-Friday, Sept. 30-Oct. 4, due to the ongoing impacts of Tropical Storm Helene. Free WiFi and a charging station have been set up in the parking lot of Asheville Middle School at 211 S. French Broad Ave.

Some commercial flights resume at Asheville Regional Airport

The Asheville Regional Airport announced Monday, Sept. 30, that American, Allegiant, Delta and United have resumed some flights.

Travelers are encouraged to check with airlines for detailed flight information as the airport’s website is not updating.

Fuel shortages are impacting ground transportation services, such as taxis, Uber, and Lyft, which could affect availability.

For those who parked overnight at the airport, none of the parking lots with customer cars were flooded, airport spokesperson Tina Kinsey said in a Monday morning update.

Visit the Asheville airport’s Facebook page for updates.

— Will Hofmann and Aaron Nelsen

Death reported in Macon County

One death has been attributed to Tropical Storm Helene in Macon County, Macon County Emergency Services Director Warren Cabe wrote in a Sept. 29 news release.

Currently, utility restoration has “significantly improved” in the Franklin area, but “will be much slower to improve in the highlands area,” Cabe wrote. Roads are open to Franklin and Highlands, but residents and motorists are suggested to stay off roadways “unless absolutely necessary.”

— Will Hofmann

HELENE IN NORTH CAROLINA:North Carolina town bands together after Helene wreaked havoc: ‘That’s what we do’

Helene death toll likely to rise in North Carolina

Reports came Sunday that 30 people had died in Buncombe County, and another five had died in Henderson County. But those early numbers are likely to rise as the full scope of the tragedy becomes clearer.

“Without more phone and internet access, we cannot share those names without being absolutely certain that we have given their loved ones this information,” Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller said. “Our hearts are broken with this news and we ask that folks give our community the space and time to grieve this incredible loss.”

Read more about the relief efforts underway in this story from Keith Sharon, Jacob Biba, Will Hofmann, Sarah Honosky and Iris Seaton.

A guide to Asheville shelters, food distribution sites and more

From shelters to school closures, water sources to curfew updates, the Citizen Times has compiled a reference guide of where to find essentials and other information in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene. You can find that here.

Western NC school, college closures

Though information on school closures in Western North Carolina is still sparse, several schools and universities have now issued alerts in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.

Iris Seaton highlights what we know about school closures so far in this story.

Asheville Dream Center sets up distribution site

Asheville Dream Center brought aid to the Asheville Mall on Sept. 29, likely becoming the first mass aid distribution site for necessities in the city. The nonprofit is the local arm of the nonprofit national Dream Center outreach ministry. The nonprofit Global Empowerment Mission was the first to respond to their call to distribute aid in the city, Asheville Dream Center Executive Director Michelle Coleman said.

The Asheville Dream Center is doing rolling updates on aid distribution sites on social media, Coleman told the Citizen Times. She encouraged all interested residents to reach out on social media or check for live updates.

Billy Graham’s The Cove to be closed until at least November

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