Photo: Sean Rayford / Getty Images News / Getty Images
UPDATE 8:00 PM
President Biden says his top priority is getting the areas impacted by Hurricane Helene the help and support they need. The president will tour areas hit by the deadly storm by air on Wednesday. Biden said despite all preparations, Helene was a storm of unprecedented and historic proportions. More than 130 people have been killed by the storm. Biden stressed they will not leave the area until the relief efforts are complete.
UPDATE 7:30 PM
Officials say they are working around the clock to restore water service to the area, but transmission lines have been destroyed in the flooding.
City of Asheville Water Resources Department spokesman Clay Chandler says, "we have experienced catastrophic damage to our production systems."
"There are large sections of the water line that were washed down the river and we haven't even found them yet," said Chandler."
Chandler says the storm also stirred up the water in the entire reservoir. "We can't treat it because its too cloudy, its too murky, it sort of has a chocolate milk appearance."
Chandler says they are working as fast as possible to restore service and are making progress.
UPDATE 6:30 PM
Drone footage shows the devastating aftermath of Helene's flooding. Towns covered in mud, roads washed out and mudslides can be seen in in Old Fort, Black Mountain, and Swannanoa.
UPDATE 4:30 PM
At least 57 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. Its been flattened with floods and mudslides and the looks like a war zone, making search and rescue operations very difficult.
UPDATE 3:00 PM
More first responders from around North Carolina are heading westward to help with Helene recovery efforts. Task Force 8 is a search-and-rescue team made up of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill firefighters. They will spend at least one week in the town of Weaverville in Buncombe County. A similar group already in Western North Carolina has helped with five water rescues, more than two dozen evacuations, and found safe shelter for dozens of other victims in Haywood County. In addition to local assistance, there are more than four-hundred National Guard members on the ground, as well as first responders from several other states.
UPDATE 2:30 PM
US senators and congressmen from North Carolina held a press conference at the WNC Farmers Market. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, and U.S. Representatives David Rouzer, Greg Murphy and Chuck Edwards discuss ongoing relief efforts, storm damage and community needs.
"I think what we have to do now is recognize that there is an active rescue operation going on and the best thing we can do is to stay out of the way of the professionals and volunteers and everyone that is doing that," said Tillis. "Our primary reason for being here is because of the unique nature of this storm. We've got to be prepared to be in this for the long haul."
"I want to thank American Red Cross, Baptist on Mission, all the volunteers of people on the ground 24-7 providing aid," said Tillis.
Senator Budd said, "this is a tough season for Western North Carolina. We've also reached out to our colleagues in the eastern part of Tennessee and those down i Georgia, and our prayers are with them as well."
"I want to thank all the law enforcement, the volunteer firemen, the full time firemen, and all first responders. Everyone here, highway patrol, every single agency is working together," said Budd.
UPDATE 12:30 PM
During a news conference today, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said, "our joint response effort has and will continue to be massive. No matter who or where you are in Western North Carolina, if you need help, we are working around the clock to reach you."
UPDATE 11:30 AM ET
The city of Asheville has announced another water distribution site. The site at Asheville Middle School will be open until dark. Earlier officials had announced a site at Pack Square.
There are four water distribution sites activated in Buncombe County. Officials says the distribution sites are located at:
- Sandy Hill Elementary
- North Windy Ridge Intermediate School
- Fairview Elementary School
- Estes Elementary School
There are six distribution sites in Henderson County:
- Etowah Elementary
- Rugby Middle
- East Henderson High
- North Henderson High
- Mills River Town Hall
- Fletcher Town Hall
Woodfin Police Department said food, water and 500 meals will be handed out at the Town Hall located at 90 Elk Mountain Road, starting at 2 p.m.
For a complete list of resources, including information on water, gas, cell service and supplies, check out this link.
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UPDATE 11:00 AM ET
Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder said during a briefing this morning that teams are still very much in active search and rescue mode. "We are reaching out and trying to find those individuals who may still be trapped in their homes," said Pinder. "We are also doing active recovery and right now I can not provide an update beyond the 40 members of the community that we loss. As of right now, I am still only confirming that there were 40 loss of lives in Buncombe County. We know that it is important for our community to know the names of these loved ones who we have lost and we are working to get that to you."
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UPDATE 6:30 AM ET
President Joe Biden is planning a visit to the state tomorrow to tour communities damaged from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. He's expected to first visit the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh before viewing cities and towns mostly concentrated in the western half of the state. Biden has said he didn't want to disrupt recovery efforts.
The death toll is rising from flooding in Western North Carolina. Five more deaths have been reported in Buncombe County, bringing the total to at least 40. Power outages remain above 350-thousand homes in the region. Some counties like Yancey, Mitchell and Henderson are almost completely without electricity. Rutherford EMC reported yesterday that it could be weeks before power could be fully restored locally.
State, federal and local officials are working together to provide resources to people in Western North Carolina that were impacted by Hurricane Helene. That includes food, water and critical supplies to affected areas. Governor Cooper has activated More than 400 National Guard Personnel. Search and rescue teams have rescued more than 500 people. There have been dozens of storm-related deaths in North Carolina, with dozens more who have been reported missing.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has delivered over a million liters of water and over 600,000 meals in North Carolina as the state recovers from Hurricane Helene. Governor Roy Cooper made the announcement on Monday, saying there was a lot to be done in the short term. Over 90 search and rescue teams are also working across the state. At least 120 people are dead across six states, with a third of those deaths coming in Western North Carolina, including Asheville.
A non-profit organization is helping provide meals to those in need in the Asheville area. World Central Kitchen sent in helicopters yesterday to an empty parking lot so that food could be loaded and sent to surrounding communities. One representative with the organization told WLOS-TV that they scouted out the area, and will also be sending out truckloads of meals.
Buncombe County is distributing water in several locations. Sand Hills Elementary, William W. Estes Elementary, North Windy Ridge Intermediate School and Fairview Elementary School will be site for pick-up today until six this evening. A boil water advisory is in place for those who can receive service at this time. Gallon containers of water were also handed out at Pack Square Park in Asheville yesterday.
Close to 300 roads in the mountain region remain closed due to storm damage. North Carolina's Secretary of Transportation told the Citizen-Times yesterday that if you don't live here, we don't want you here. That's the message for now due to the heavy amount of damage across the area, as thousands of FEMA employees and National Guard troops help provide relief.