Images of Asheville after Helene
Editor’s note: Carolina Public Press offers this post as a photo essay on what has been happening in Asheville, one of the places hardest hit by Tropical Storm Helene on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.
Longtime CPP contributing photographer Colby Rabon captured these images while moving about Asheville, throughout the day Friday. Due to technical problems with communications, he was unable to share these photos with CPP until Saturday.
We know that many other places in North Carolina are hurting. A tornado struck near Rocky Mount in Nash County. Deadly accidents claimed lives in Charlotte and near Hickory. Unknown numbers of people have drowned or been buried in landslides.
Horrible flooding is occurring in many places from Boone to Boiling Springs. Rivers and streams are overflowing. Some buildings and communities have washed away. People are trapped and surrounded by floodwaters, many in need of medical attention. Major roads are blocked or collapsed. Communications are cut off and many are without power. Rescues have been ongoing. At least one unconfirmed report tells of a first responder who died in the line of action. Curfews are in place and people are asked to stay off the roads. Despite that, where there is gas, long lines are forming. Boil water orders are in effect. Asheville and other cities have reported catastrophic failures of their water systems. An evacuation of at least some patients was underway at Mission Hospital in Asheville late Saturday afternoon.
We will try to tell all of these stories and more as time goes on. Many other journalists from local, state and national organizations are also working to help us all understand what has happened. We salute them as we each do our part. And soon we will all begin focusing on the long road to recovery. But for this afternoon, we share with you these images from Asheville.
