ASHEVILLE, N.C. − Search and rescue teams in western North Carolina have made progress as of Tuesday, working to restore access to roads and utilities like electricity, running water, and cellphone service to areas impacted by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath.

The storm has claimed over 100 lives across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, with the number likely to rise as recovery efforts continue. Hundreds are reported missing, but this figure may decrease as more communication systems are restored and rescue teams reach isolated locations.

President Joe Biden is set to visit North Carolina and South Carolina on Wednesday to meet with local emergency response leaders. He plans to take aerial views of the affected areas and has also expressed intentions to visit Georgia and Florida “as soon as possible.”

In North Carolina, more than 1,500 transportation workers have been deployed, utilizing 1,500 trucks equipped with 1,000 chainsaws to clear pathways.

“As we embark on another day of rescue and relief operations post-storm, we offer our sincere gratitude to all first responders striving to save lives,” stated the state emergency management team on social platforms.

Jannette Montenegro, covered in mud from her efforts to clean her historical building, Cotton Mill Studios, shared her experience as the water level dropped in Asheville’s severely flooded River Arts District.

“We did what we could to salvage items, but this type of flooding was unexpected,” she explained.

Latest Updates:

∎ A fundraiser led by former President Donald Trump for Hurricane Helene victims has raised over $3 million as of Tuesday.

∎ Approximately 1.5 million residences and businesses in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia were still without power early Thursday.

∎ Officials in Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, reported 40 confirmed deaths in the area so far. The national death tally from Hurricane Helene stands at least at 133.

∎ According to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, all inmates are accounted for. While several facilities are functioning on backup power, none experienced flooding, they confirmed.

Hurricane ‘Will Not Hinder Election Process’

North Carolina election officials are racing against time to ensure that over 7 million registered voters can participate in the November 5 elections, despite the extensive damage to properties and infrastructure throughout the western region of the state. A governor and congressional representatives are among those being elected in North Carolina.

Representatives from the state legislature are acknowledging that Florida is among several crucial battleground states that may play a significant role in deciding the next U.S. president.

“The damage is unparalleled, and the level of uncertainty so close to Election Day is overwhelming,” stated Karen Brinson-Bell, the leader of the state’s Board of Elections, on Tuesday.

Brinson-Bell anticipates a complete evaluation of the storm’s effects on election facilities and other concerns by the week’s end but assures that Hurricane Helene will not disrupt the electoral process. “We may need to adjust our methods, but we will still conduct elections despite the hurricane,” she explained.

Aftermath of the Hurricane Strikes Hard

SUWANNEE, Fla. − Billie Mincks has a deep affection for his quaint coastal town, but after enduring the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia last year coupled with Hurricane Helene, he’s considering relocating. When he spoke with the YSL News NETWORK-Florida following Idalia, he was uncertain about how long he would remain displaced. His rental home had been repaired and he was back with his wife, Tori Johnston, when Helene struck, leaving his house in ruins.

“I just can’t face this again,” remarked Mincks, as he awaited food and supplies provided by relief organizations. “Helene was so much worse; Idalia feels like a minor incident in comparison.”

− Douglas Soule, YSL News NETWORK – Florida

Factory Workers Caught In Floodwaters

In hard-hit Erwin, Tennessee, a group of Impact Plastics employees found themselves clinging to spools of flexible yellow plastic pipes on a semi-truck for hours while the raging Nolichucky River surged around them. At least seven of the workers were swept away and are either missing or presumed dead.

Jacob Ingram, who had been working at Impact Plastics for nearly eight months, shared that as the waters rose, managers instructed employees to stay put instead of letting them leave. According to Ingram, workers were told to move their vehicles away from the encroaching water. The company, however, denied giving such orders.

“We are heartbroken over the tragic loss of our valued employees,” expressed founder and CEO Gerald O’Connor in a statement.

− Tyler Whetsone, Knoxville News Sentinel

Severe Rainfall and Mountain Terrain Cause Catastrophe

Forecasters had warned that Hurricane Helene might become a “once-in-a-generation” storm for parts of the Appalachian region, and the prediction proved sadly correct. The rainfall from Helene alone would have caused significant flooding, but the situation worsened due to an atmospheric front that had stalled over the Appalachians just before the arrival of now-Tropical Storm Helene, explained David Easterling, a rain specialist from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information in Asheville, North Carolina.

The mountainous terrain also increased the rainfall amounts as the heights contribute to the air currents that produce extra rain in thunderstorms, Easterling noted. High winds knocked down trees and power lines, contributing to mudslides and landslides that affected utility poles across the area.

“With a mudslide, you could see 5 to 10 feet of mud,” he added. “The extent of loss of life is still uncertain.”

− Doyle Rice and Dinah Voyles Pulver

Town’s Recovery Eroded by Storm

MARSHALL, N.C. – Once a thriving Appalachian town with major retail stores, Marshall had seen a decline, leaving its buildings empty. However, it experienced a renaissance in recent years, filled with new art, music, and dining options. The previously rundown jailhouse was transformed into a boutique hotel and restaurant.

Sadly, the town’s revitalized downtown area was wrecked by Hurricane Helene: streets covered in thick mud, twisted debris, derailed train tracks, and overturned cars.

As residents in Marshall, like others in western North Carolina, grapple with the aftermath a few days post-storm, they struggle to find essential supplies without electricity or communication, while National Guard helicopters hover overhead.

“It’s a tragedy,” lamented Keaton Griffin, as he worked to clear mud and debris with a wheelbarrow.

− Chris Kenning

Seeking Solace, They Discover Ruin

Taylor Houchens relocated to Asheville about four years ago in search of healing. The area’s mountains, forests, and lakes called to him, much like they have to countless others who have visited the North Carolina city seeking relaxation and renewal. Consequently, Asheville has nurtured a vibrant wellness community, where numerous mental health practitioners and holistic healers have thrived.

Now, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, this community faces devastation, leaving Houchens uncertain about the future.

“It’s utter devastation. It feels apocalyptic and tragic,” he reflected during a phone call while driving to stay with family in Savannah, Georgia.

− Charles Trepany