Photo: Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty Images News / Getty Images
UPDATE 8:00 PM ET
Vice President Harris says the federal government will do everything it can to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. The Democratic presidential candidate visited FEMA headquarters Monday to thank workers for their response to the deadly storm. At least 120 people are dead across six states, with a third of those deaths coming in Western North Carolina, including Asheville. More than two-million customers are without power and many don't have clean water to drink or cell service. Harris said she plans to visit some of the impacted areas as soon as possible, but only if it's not disrupting any emergency response operations.
UPDATE: 7:00 PM ET
At least 40 people are dead in the Asheville, North Carolina area after Hurricane Helene. Flooding in Asheville and other parts of Buncombe County and Western North Carolina is described as being at "biblical" levels. The small city was hit with catastrophic rivers of water, killing dozens and stranding countless more. The power is out in most parts and cell service is poor. The National Guard is delivering food and water.
UPDATE 5:00 PM ET
North Carolina Governor Ray Cooper traveled to Asheville. "Today we did an aerial overview to see the damage here in Western North Carolina and it is extensive and devastating," said Cooper. "We know it is going to require significant resources both in the short term and long term."
"We also went to Mission hospital and saw the heroic efforts that are being made there by hospital personnel," said Cooper.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said they'll do everything they can to provide help. "I want the people of North Carolina to know that we have the resources here in North Carolina to help with this response and to begin the recovery," said Criswell.
UPDATE: 3:15 PM ET
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says the federal government is providing as much support as possible to the areas hit hardest by the floods. "We have rescued hundreds and hundreds of people. We have delivered 1.9 million ready meals. We have delivered one million liters of water," said Mayorkas.
UPDATE: 2:30 PM ET
Florida is lending a hand to other states impacted by Helene. Governor Ron DeSantis launched Operation Blue Ridge over the weekend as a way to deploy extra resources to North Carolina and Tennessee. The multi-agency response will include State and National Guard members, Florida emergency management officials, and a variety of other first responders. The initiative will also help Floridians who want to be rescued from Western North Carolina, where communities were hit with catastrophic flooding.
UPDATE: 1:00 PM ET
Some commercial flights have resumed at Asheville Regional Airport. America, Delta and United say they are resuming some flights. Relief flights are also expected. Flight status can change at any time and airport officials are urging you to check with your airline before heading to the airport.
UPDATE: 11:30 AM ET
Rescue crews are looking for hundreds of people who are still unaccounted for as North Carolina communities grapple with Helene's impacts. More than 40 people ranging from four to 75 years old were killed in the state. Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller gave an update earlier this morning, saying 35 of those deaths were in his area. More than a thousand missing persons reports have been filed through the county. A Federal Major Disaster Declaration has been issued for 25 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Governor Roy Cooper says Helene brought up to 29 inches of rain, life-threatening floods and landslides across the mountain region.
Emergency repairs are underway on a Western North Carolina dam that was at-risk of collapsing last week. The town of Lake Lure posted an update on Facebook yesterday, saying the dam is stable. A warning about the barrier's imminent risk of failing was issued as Helene was moving through the region. Residents living below the 124-foot structure were asked to evacuate since water was spilling over the top. Engineers have assessed the Lake Lure Dam. FEMA officials are expected to examine it next.
Dozens of law enforcement officials from the Piedmont Triad are providing extra support in the aftermath of Helene. Nearly 40 Greensboro officers are in Asheville to help local police with security in affected areas, as well as at shelters and resource centers. The team will remain in Western North Carolina for about a week. In addition, Greensboro fire crews are helping with rescues, evacuations, and damage assessment. The city is also deploying workers from its water resources department to assist local operations since thousands are still without services. Asheville has issued a citywide curfew from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
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UPDATE: 10:35 AM ET
At least 35 people are dead in the Asheville, North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. Flooding in Asheville and other parts of Buncombe County and Western North Carolina is described as being at "biblical" levels. Asheville was flattened and looks like a war zone, forcing officials to ship in water and food, and every shelter is full. The power out in most parts and cell service is poor. Officials are going door-to-door on bikes for welfare checks, and there have been makeshift family reunification centers. More than 400,000 people in North Carolina are among the two million throughout the Southeast who are still without power. Helene is being blamed for over 90 deaths in the Southeast.
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UPDATE: 10:00 AM ET
At least 90 people are dead as a result of Hurricane Helene with a third of them being reported in North Carolina. The death toll is expected to rise as Western North Carolina has been impacted by devastating floods, leaving some areas under several feet of water. At least 30 died in Buncombe County.
New York's governor is sending National Guard soldiers and equipment to North Carolina to help with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. Governor Kathy Hochul has deployed 17 Army National Guard soldiers from Rochester along with three Chinook helicopters and four one-hundred kilowatt generators. The soldiers and choppers will support the North Carolina National Guard. The generators are being trucked to Macon, Georgia. Hochul says they embody the spirit of solidarity and resilience.
A Colorado task force is on the move to help more victims of Hurricane Helene. Steve Aseltine says people from all around the state are part of the group. They first set up in Tennessee on Friday, then headed to Florida and now they're in North Carolina. The 45-member team arrived last night to focus on Asheville after widespread flooding hit the city. The group spent the weekend searching neighborhoods under evacuation and rescuing people trapped in their homes.
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UPDATE: 6:00 AM ET
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper says getting people out and getting supplies in is the priority in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Flooding in Asheville and other parts of Buncombe County and Western North Carolina is described as being at "biblical" levels. More than 400,000 people in North Carolina are among the two million throughout the Southeast who are still without power. A reported quarter-million people lost cell phone service, which officials say is contributing to the high number of people being reported missing. Helene is being blamed for at least 90 deaths in the Southeast after it made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane.
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UPDATE: 5:30 AM ET
Hundreds of people are still unaccounted for in Buncombe County as massive recovery efforts are underway. At least 30 people have been confirmed dead, while 600 are missing as of this morning. Five storm-related deaths were reported in Henderson County as well.
Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller says the flooding caused by Helene has been devastating.
"We now have 30 confirmed losses due to the storm," said Miller. Officials say hundreds are still unaccounted for following the flooding caused by up to 29 inches of rain in some areas.
At least 94,000 customers in the Asheville area were without power late today. Residents in some areas, especially Black Mountain, are having problems getting bottled water. Governor Roy Cooper is calling Helene one of the worst storms in modern history for parts of North Carolina.
Asheville's mayor is giving updates on water supply for households in the city. Esther Manheimer told WLOS-TV Sunday that some customers in south Asheville should have service since the Mills River plant is still functioning. Roads have been washed out while service is restored from the North Fork plant in the northern part of the city. Residents are encouraged to go to the city's government website and sign up for A-V-L Alerts.
The impacts of Hurricane Helene's remnants are still affecting flights in and out of Asheville. The Asheville Regional Airport is urging passengers to pay close attention to flight updates in the meantime. Most flights were canceled over the weekend and most appear to be impacted today as well. Airport officials say widespread internet and cell service outages have impacted flights as well.
Most schools around Western North Carolina are shut down. A number of counties like Buncombe, Haywood, McDowell and Watauga are closed all week. Others have canceled class until further notice. UNC Asheville, Western Carolina and Appalachian State University are all closed this week too.
The flooding in Western North Carolina is leading to massive amounts of road closures. In its latest update late Sunday afternoon, the state's department of transportation said at least 200 roads were closed. That includes Interstate 40 and Interstate 26 at the Tennessee-North Carolina border. Roads in the area have been swept away by catastrophic flooding and mudslides caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene. State emergency officials are telling people to not travel in or two Western North Carolina.
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UPDATE: 5:00 AM ET
The Fresh Market plans to distribute free bottles of water to those in need at two locations in Asheville, starting at 10 a.m. Monday.
"We understand that everyone is limited on resources, so please check our social media sites for updates and confirmation that distribution is up and running," the media alert read.
The following locations plan to distribute free bottles of water while they last:
- The Fresh Market Parking Lot at 944 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC
- The Fresh Market Parking Lot 1378 Hendersonville, Rd, Ashville, NC 28803
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