The death toll in the Asheville area surged to 35 on Monday as Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic flooding ravaged western North Carolina. Survivors in remote mountain towns described seeing the bodies of victims trapped in trees, a chilling reminder of the storm’s deadly power.
Nationwide, Hurricane Helene has claimed 120 lives since it hit the Southeast last Thursday, and the situation in Buncombe County, where Asheville is located, remains dire. Heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, triggering mudslides and sweeping away entire communities. Many victims are still cut off from rescue operations due to washed-out roads and downed power lines.
Residents of Black Mountain, a village near Asheville, have shared heart-wrenching stories of survival. Alyssa Hudson, a local, described how she fled her home just before it was submerged. “Our floors are caved in, our walls are gone,” she said, adding that they lost everything. Others in the area recounted terrifying moments, such as seeing bodies floating in ditches and fighting against the relentless floodwaters.
Emergency responders are racing against time to reach those still stranded. Crews have been using chainsaws to clear paths through debris, while some volunteers have resorted to using mules to deliver essential supplies to those in hard-to-reach areas.
The historic town of Chimney Rock was particularly hard-hit, with entire blocks of shops and restaurants wiped out. In Asheville, the storm knocked out the city’s water system, forcing residents to rely on makeshift methods to flush toilets and gather drinking water.
With estimates placing the total damage from the storm at $34 billion, North Carolina is facing a long and difficult recovery. As emergency shelters fill with displaced residents, the search for missing people continues, leaving many to fear that the final toll could be even higher.
