Days after the hurricane-turned-tropical-storm Helene cut a path of ruin across the Southeast, the lack of cell coverage in Western North Carolina and widespread electrical outages are making it hard to get a handle on the scope of the destruction.
In a Sunday morning press briefing in Asheville, Buncombe County manager Avril Pinder explained that rescue operations can’t conduct wellness checks because they’re still in rescue and recovery mode. People are still stranded, with closed roads, downed trees and power lines, and floodwaters affecting the situation.
“We are continuing intense rescue and recovery operations through mud slides, flooded areas,” Avril said. “We’re still trying to save every single person we can.”
“All roads in Western N.C. are considered closed,” stated the North Carolina Department of Transportation. “There are still areas that we’ve not been able to get to,” added Buncombe Sheriff Quentin Miller.
The state has reported ten fatalities as of noon Sunday, and Buncombe County alone has received more than a thousand reports of missing persons, officials stated in the briefing. Fire Chief Anthony Penland of Swannanoa, North Carolina, in Buncombe, said: “The main part of Swannanoa is completely devastated. Through our search and rescue efforts, we’ve had complete neighborhoods that are no longer there. We’re doing search and rescue.”
Pinder said the National Guard has been deployed, and she directed residents to buncombeready.org, which shares information about shelters and updates on missing persons and emergencies.
Without access to the internet, cellular service, and electricity, Asheville-area residents shared information on social media when possible. “I’m literally outside the county courthouse on the steps getting Wi-Fi,” chef William Dissen told me via Instagram message last night. “Would love to see screenshots of news.”
After hours of trying to reach friends and sources in the area—by text, Instagram, and phone call—updates trickled in. The writer and Western Carolina University professor Ron Rash texted that he was okay in Sylva, North Carolina, and miraculously had power; the Boone writer and Appalachian State professor Mark Powell described emerging after the storm and “gradually realizing that what felt like a small private inconvenience was actually a communal disaster.”
“We can’t stay at my house because of landslides,” texted G&G contributor Lauren Northup, who lives in Fairview, North Carolina. “No service, power, water, anything.” Later she added that there are many people still missing in her town. “Can’t imagine how widespread it is. My story is all the men from [the Buncombe communities of] Fairview, Leicester, and Sandy Mush and beyond who mobilized immediately on ATVs, on foot, and on bikes, followed by the Forest Service. They spent fifteen hours getting through the landslide to the people on the other side of our ridge. They were tireless and determined. The courage of those men. I will never forget it.”
Asheville’s community of hospitality workers, artists, and small businesses quickly began sharing screenshots with information—like where to access the internet and find clean water.
“If you haven’t heard from loved ones or teammates, there is a near communication failure with power, phone service, and internet out,” posted Victoria Isley, the president of Explore Asheville. She shared locations with Wi-Fi, but noted that “the hotels I’ve been able to connect with don’t have power or water so are not able to accommodate guests or residents seeking shelter.”
Pisgah Brewing posted a note about having potable water, and asked people to bring their own jugs:
The popular Asheville-area business Antique Tobacco Barn posted a photo of the interior of their store:
Burial Beer Co. posted on their stories that they were hosting a free cookout on Sunday.
East Fork Pottery posted: “East Fork team members, our neighbors, friends, and family are among the millions across the Southeast without power and under water, just starting to take stock of what’s been lost.”
“Parts of our community are completely devastated,” posted the restaurant Good Hot Fish, noting that they were working to establish contact with team members.
The Southern Smoke Foundation shared a note about aiding food and beverage workers affected by the storm:
“There is a lot of work ahead of our community and region,” Isley posted. “We are hurting AND we are strong.”
Here’s how to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene
Read about the storm’s impact in Boone, North Carolina
