ASHEVILLE, N.C. − The “Great Flood” of 1916 caused unimaginable destruction in this small mountain town of western North Carolina. This event was dubbed “the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Western North Carolina,” resulting in the loss of numerous lives and the complete destruction of roads and railways.

The haunting memory of this past disaster resurfaced recently as heavy rains from Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on western North Carolina. Areas near the Blue Ridge Mountains are facing severe devastation; hundreds are reported missing, thousands are without electricity, and numerous roads are blocked.

This “100-year flood” has been attributed to an unusual meteorological occurrence, some unfortunate circumstances, and possibly climate change, according to the Asheville Citizen Times. The total damage and destruction caused by Helene remain uncertain and will take some time to fully assess, the Citizen Times noted.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper remarked that Helene has been “one of the worst storms in modern history for parts of North Carolina.”

Looking back more than a century, the “Great Flood” of 1916 peaked at a height of 21 feet, a record now surpassed by Helene. Here’s a comparison of the catastrophic effects of the 1916 flood with those caused by Helene in western North Carolina:

What occurred during Asheville’s “Great Flood” of 1916?

Weeks of relentless rain culminated in what was termed “the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Western North Carolina.” The catastrophic flood of 1916 devastated the area, taking many lives and obliterating roads and railways.

The National Weather Service indicated that a storm system made landfall in Alabama on July 5, 1916, unleashing heavy, continuous rainfall over the foothills and mountains of North Carolina. Although the initial storm did not cause flooding, the ground became soaked, raising water levels significantly.

Then, a second storm arrived.

On July 14, a Category 2 hurricane hit the coast of South Carolina before making its way to the mountains of North Carolina on July 15. Record-breaking rainfall occurred widely, with reports indicating that between July 15-16, some areas of western North Carolina received 22.22 inches of rain.

“The water that rushed through was not just ‘high’; it eroded the landscape under mountain railroad tracks, leaving them suspended like aerial trapeze rigs between 20 and 60 feet above the ground,” reported the city of Asheville.

It is estimated that around 80 people perished in the 1916 flood, but many believe this figure to be higher. According to the Statesville Record and Landmark, over 20 lives were lost when a single bridge collapsed at Catawba, claiming the lives of 14 railway workers, four telegraph operators, and several onlookers.

“It wasn’t merely a heavy rainfall across the mountain region,” reported the Newton Enterprise on July 25, 1916. “It was a night filled with terror and extreme weather conditions.”

Helene’s flooding brings widespread devastation

Hurricane Helene unleashed nearly 14 inches of rain by Sept. 27 across cities in the Blue Ridge Mountains, including Asheville.

Other parts of North Carolina experienced more than 2 feet of rain, with Busick receiving close to 31 inches and Spruce Pine noting 24.12 inches by 8 a.m. on Sept. 28.

Authorities in North Carolina reported that fatalities in the state have climbed to 108, with Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, accounting for 72 deaths, though this number is expected to rise.

According to YSL News, hundreds of homes have suffered damage or complete destruction, and many roads have been rendered impassable in western North Carolina. Numerous neighborhoods are without electricity and running water.

AccuWeather has projected the total damage and economic losses caused by Hurricane Helene to reach $160 billion, which also encompasses destruction along the Florida coast and the Southeast region.

Reports from 1916, such as those from the Winston-Salem Journal, indicated that the flood inflicted millions of dollars in damages, with agricultural losses alone amounting to several hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“It can be confidently stated that the extent of damage caused by flooding in the western portion of North Carolina has never been seen before,” noted the Winston-Salem Journal regarding the Great Flood of 1916. “In fact, no one imagined this area could suffer such destruction.”

Fast forward more than a century, and western North Carolina is left in ruins due to one of the deadliest storms in its history. Helene is now recognized as the most lethal hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland since Katrina in 2005.