Desperate residents in western North Carolina’s storm-ravaged mountains are struggling to find water and food as the effects of Hurricane Helene linger. Days after the storm, locals are scavenging for cellphone signals and transporting creek water to flush toilets. Emergency teams are working tirelessly to clear roads, restore power and phone service, and reach those stranded by the devastating storm, which has claimed over 150 lives across the Southeast.
President Joe Biden is scheduled to tour the affected areas on Wednesday.
In a significant impact, two manufacturing facilities in North Carolina that produce high-purity quartz for semiconductors, solar panels, and fiber-optic cables have been forced to halt operations due to the storm. Sibelco and The Quartz Corp both shut down in the Appalachian town of Spruce Pine before the storm arrived, affecting their workforce as ongoing power outages hinder communication with several employees.
As Kirk developed into a hurricane in the eastern Atlantic on Tuesday with forecasts of strengthening, there are currently no coastal watches or warnings in effect, and the storm poses no immediate threat to land.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the University of North Carolina at Asheville has announced it will remain closed until at least October 14, with classes potentially resuming as late as October 28. Although the university itself sustained minimal structural damage, it has struggled with outages of electricity, running water, and internet service since last Friday.
Community leaders are taking action as the North Carolina National Guard, consisting of 800 activated members, is on the ground conducting rescue operations and delivering supplies. Governor Roy Cooper has indicated that the recovery process could cost several billion dollars and emphasized the need for ongoing resources to tackle water system issues in the region.
As of Tuesday, more than two dozen water treatment facilities remain offline, particularly in Asheville, where city officials caution that full system repairs could take weeks. Cooper acknowledged that continued water system issues would lead to a prolonged crisis requiring sustained support.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas outlined the extent of the damage, noting significant destruction to infrastructure and the deployment of resources to restore communications. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster reported that remnants of Hurricane Helene resulted in 36 fatalities in his state, raising the total death toll to 152.
The storm not only caused immense loss of life but devastated local infrastructure, with over 587,000 customers without power in South Carolina alone, and extensive damage to transmission lines and power poles.
In response to the disaster, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has dispatched emergency resources to North Carolina and Tennessee, where rescue operations are ongoing. He noted that assistance includes personnel and supplies delivered to areas in critical need.
Across the Southeast, more than 1.4 million people remain without power due to the extensive damage, and local officials are working diligently to restore services while ensuring the safety of residents. The overwhelming rain from Hurricane Helene has inundated the region, with an unprecedented amount of water causing widespread flooding and disruption.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that over 40 trillion gallons of rain fell in the last week, a staggering volume that has taken experts by surprise, underscoring the scale of this environmental catastrophe.
