The Asheville area and much of Western North Carolina are already dealing with the aftermath of torrential rains and flash flooding from Hurricane Helene. Authorities have declared a state of emergency local and warn the population about the importance of having an emergency plan, and get prepared for evacuations. 

At a press conference this afternoon, county officials said the worst is expected tonight, Thursday, September 26, but the effects of the flooding will begin to be felt tomorrow, Friday.

In Asheville and Buncombe County, there were no schools today and there will be no classes tomorrow, and people are urged to avoid leaving their homes unless absolutely necessary. There are warnings of rivers in flood and power and water outages.

At a press conference, county officials reported that the storm could be historic and the French Broad River is expected to rise as much as 15 feet and the Swananoa River more than 10 feet.

More than 15 inches of rain

Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida on Thursday night and move northward, bringing more heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour to the region Thursday night into Friday. However, prior to its arrival, non-stop rain has fallen in the area since yesterday afternoon and throughout today, with electric storms, large accumulation of water and flash flooding in the city and nearby towns. 

Rainfall accumulations have already exceeded 7 inches and with Helene's arrival, the number is expected to rise to 15 inches. The situation is life-threatening and authorities are urging people to have a plan, especially those living near rivers and streams or in low-lying or flood-prone areas. 

“We’ve already seen significant flooding, and this is expected to worsen,” said Rocío Quintero, Buncombe County’s language access specialist, at a Spanish-language press conference. “So far, we’ve received 7 inches of rain, according to data from the Asheville Airport, and an additional 9 to 14 inches of rain are expected in the coming days, which would mark a historic milestone for the area.”

The French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, both of which run through the city of Asheville, are already in moderate flood stage. Quintero also said rescue crews have responded to 18 emergency calls and conducted several water rescues. 

State of emergency 

Buncombe County has declared a local State of Emergency, affecting Asheville, Weaverville, Woodfin, Black Mountain, Montreat and Biltmore Forest. With this declaration, Emergency Management staff are implementing plans for prevention, preparation, response and recovery from potential emergency situations. 

“The implementation of such emergency management plans will allow for the mobilization and positioning of sufficient personnel to reduce the vulnerability of County persons and property to damage, injury and loss of life,” Buncombe County reported.

“County officials are expecting heavy rain, strong winds, flooding, mudslides and power outages,” the county added. In preparation, resources are being allocated, including chainsaw crews and swiftwater rescue teams, as well as considering setting up emergency shelters for those who cannot safely take shelter at home.

The emergency declaration will remain in effect until 6 p.m. on Sunday, September 29, unless rescinded earlier. 

Schools and parks closed 

With relentless rain in the forecast, Asheville restaurants and businesses began closing earlier than usual to allow workers and customers to safely return home.

In particular, the Biltmore area, one of the most visited neighborhoods, is experiencing flooded streets. Restaurants have announced their closures on social media, and the school system has notified families about the suspension of classes today and tomorrow.

“After consulting with police and first responders, Asheville City Schools has decided to close tomorrow, Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27, to prioritize the safety of our students and staff,” families were notified via email last night.

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Flooded streets and power cuts 

As of Thursday morning, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is reporting more than 30 road closures in the region due to the weather conditions. Water has been reported collecting on parts of Interstate 26.

The total number of power outages in the western part of the state so far is 12,598. To stay updated on the outages, users can consult the following link: poweroutage.us

There is no water service in the Woodfin area and more than 500 people are without power. The county is asking people to make sure they have food and water in their homes, stay home and pay attention to the news. 

Closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway  Hurricane Helene passes through Western North Carolina

The National Park Service announced a complete closure to the public in several areas of the Blue Ridge Parkway due to the arrival of Hurricane Helene and the forecast of heavy rain and winds. The closures include several sections and all visitors are asked to avoid the area due to possible landslides. All parks in Asheville and Buncombe County are also closed, the city said.

The release said National Park Service officials are monitoring the projected path of Hurricane Helene and the heavy rainfall event that will impact Western North Carolina. Complete closures to all public use have been announced at the following locations: mile markers 314 to 375.6 from north of Linville Falls to Ox Creek and mile markers 393 to 455 from the NC191/French Broad overlook to Soco Gap.

Additionally, the following facilities are planned to close: Linville Falls Campground at mile marker 316.4; Pisgah Campground at mile marker 408.8; Linville Falls Visitor Center, Craggy Gardens, and Waterrock Knob.

Even in areas where roads remain open, park visitors are advised to take extreme caution and be alert to the possibility of falling rocks and trees due to inclement weather. 

Stay safe and informed 

Residents should monitor updates on Hurricane Helene's path through North Carolina, prepare emergency kits, secure outdoor items, and avoid travel if possible. "We are preparing for significant impacts from Hurricane Helene," said Buncombe County Administrator Avril Pinder. 

“Flooding, landslides, and strong winds pose serious threats to our community, and we urge all residents to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families,” he stressed.

Stay informed:  Monitor local news, weather channels and www.buncombecounty.org To receive ongoing updates, sign up for BC Alerts by texting “BCAlert” (case-insensitive) to 99411.

Prepare for flooding and landslides:  If you live in low-lying or mountainous areas, be prepared to evacuate with your loved ones and pets at short notice. Have an emergency kit ready for you and your animals, including food, water, and essential medications. If you must evacuate, take your pets with you.

Secure outdoor items:  Strong winds from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina may cause debris to fly. Secure items such as outdoor furniture, trash cans and other loose objects that could become hazardous.

Avoid traveling:  Stay off the roads if possible, especially during the height of the storm, to avoid flooding and debris.

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After the storm

A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity. 

🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.

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Flooding and state of emergency in Western North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene

by Patricia Serrano, Enlace Latino NC
September 26, 2024

Enlace Latino NCSeptember 26, 2024 The Asheville area and much of Western North Carolina are already dealing with the aftermath of torrential rains and flash flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Authorities have declared a local state of emergency and are warning the public about the importance of having an emergency plan and preparing for evacuations. In a press conference this afternoon, county authorities indicated that the worst is expected tonight, Thursday, September 26, but the effects of the flooding will begin to be felt starting tomorrow, Friday. In Asheville and Buncombe County, there were no classes today and there will be no classes tomorrow, and people are urged to avoid leaving their homes unless absolutely necessary. There are warnings of overflowing rivers and cuts in water and electricity supplies. At a news conference, county officials said the storm could be historic , with the French Broad River expected to rise by as much as 15 feet and the Swananoa River by more than 10 feet. More than 2 inches of rain Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall in Florida on Thursday night and move northward, bringing more heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 15 mph to the region Thursday night into Friday. However, prior to his arrival, since yesterday afternoon and throughout today, it has rained non-stop in the area, with thunderstorms , large accumulations of water, and flash floods in the city and nearby towns. Rainfall accumulation has already exceeded 7 inches and it is expected that with the arrival of Helene the number could rise to 15 inches. The situation is life-threatening and authorities are urging people to have a plan, especially those living near rivers and streams or in low-lying or flood-prone areas. "We've already seen significant flooding and this is expected to get worse," Buncombe County Language Access Specialist Rocío Quintero said at a news conference in Spanish. "So far we've received 7 inches of rain, according to Asheville Airport data, and an additional 9 to 14 inches of rain is expected in the coming days, which would mark a historic milestone for the area," he said. The French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, both of which run through the city of Asheville, are already at moderate flood stage. Quintero also said that rescue teams have responded to 18 emergency calls and carried out several water rescues. Latest news on Helene's passage through Buncombe County ➜ Danger at Eden Glenn mobile home park in Buncombe ➜ Shelters open in western part of the state and a camp in Charlotte for evacuees from Hurricane Helene State of emergency Buncombe County has declared a local State of Emergency, affecting Asheville, Weaverville, Woodfin, Black Mountain, Montreat and Biltmore Forest. With this declaration, Emergency Management personnel implement plans for prevention, preparation, response and recovery from possible emergency situations. “The implementation of such emergency management plans will allow for the mobilization and positioning of sufficient personnel to reduce the vulnerability of County persons and property to damage, injury and loss of life,” Buncombe County said. “County officials expect heavy rain, strong winds, flooding, mudslides and power outages,” the county added. In preparation, resources are being allocated, including chainsaw equipment and swift water rescue teams, as well as consideration being given to establishing emergency shelters for those who cannot safely take refuge at home. The emergency declaration will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday, September 29, unless earlier terminated. Schools and parks closed With relentless rain in the forecast, Asheville restaurants and businesses began closing earlier than usual to allow workers and customers to safely return home. In particular, the Biltmore area, one of the most visited neighborhoods, is experiencing flooded streets. Restaurants have announced their closures on social media, and the school system has notified families that classes will be suspended today and tomorrow. "After consulting with law enforcement and first responders, Asheville City Schools has decided to close tomorrow, Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27 to prioritize the safety of our students and staff," they notified families via email last night. Flooded streets and power cuts As of Thursday morning, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is reporting more than 2 road closures in the region due to the weather conditions. Water accumulation has been reported on parts of Interstate 26. So far, the total number of power outages in the western part of the state is 12,598. To stay updated on outages, users can check the following link: Poweroutage.us There is no water service in the Woodfin area and more than 500 people are without electricity. The county asked people to make sure they have food and water at home, stay home and pay attention to the news. Blue Ridge Parkway closures due to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina The National Park Service announced a complete closure to the public in several areas of the Blue Ridge Parkway due to the arrival of Hurricane Helene and the forecast of heavy rain and winds. Closures include several sections and all visitors are asked to avoid the area due to possible landslides. All parks in Asheville and Buncombe County are also closed, the city said. The release said National Park Service officials are monitoring the projected path of Hurricane Helene and the heavy rainfall event that will impact Western North Carolina. Complete closures to all public use have been announced at the following locations: miles 314 to 375.6 from north of Linville Falls to Ox Creek and miles 393 to 455 from the NC191/French Broad overlook to Soco Gap. Additionally, the following facilities are planned to close: Linville Falls Campground at mile marker 316.4; Pisgah Campground at mile marker 408.8; Linville Falls Visitor Center, Craggy Gardens, and Waterrock Knob. Even in areas where roads remain open, park visitors are advised to take extreme caution and be alert to the possibility of falling rocks and trees due to inclement weather. Stay safe and informed Residents should monitor updates on Hurricane Helene's passage through North Carolina, prepare emergency kits, secure outdoor items and avoid travel if possible. "We are preparing for significant impact from Hurricane Helene," said Buncombe County Administrator Avril Pinder. "Flooding, landslides and strong winds pose serious threats to our community, and we urge all residents to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families," he said. Stay informed: Monitor local news, weather channels and www.buncombecounty.org for ongoing updates. Sign up for BC Alerts by texting "BCAlert" (not case sensitive) to 99411. Prepare for flooding and landslides: If you live in low-lying or mountainous areas, be prepared to evacuate with your loved ones and pets at short notice. Have an emergency kit ready for you and your animals, including food, water and essential medications. If you must evacuate, take your pets with you. Secure outdoor items: Strong winds from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina could cause debris to fly. Secure items such as outdoor furniture, trash cans, and other loose objects that could become dangerous. Avoid travel: Stay off roads if possible, especially during the height of the storm, to avoid flooding and debris. Emergency contacts For emergencies: call 911 Buncombe County Non-Emergency Line: (828) 250-6650 Report fallen trees: (828) 250-6670 Report power outages: 1-800-419-6356 This <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org/inundaciones-y-estado-de-emergencia-en-el-oeste-de-carolina-del-norte-por-huracan-helene/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://enlacelatinonc.org">Enlace Latino NCand is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: "https://enlacelatinonc.org/inundaciones-y-estado-de-emergencia-en-el-oeste-de-carolina-del-norte-por-huracan-helene/", urlref: window.location.href }); } }

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