The flood was pushed by the remnants of Hurricane Helene left the largest mountain town in North Carolina which is generally cut off there by broken roads and lack of power and cell phone service, part of the swath of destruction across southern Appalachia that left an unknown number dead and countless worried relatives could not reach loved ones.
In North Carolina alone, more than 400 roads remained closed Saturday as flood waters began to recede and damage was revealed. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said supplies were being flown to parts of the state.
At least seven people have killed Helene in North Carolina, CBS News has confirmed, among them the death toll is at least 57 people in many countries.
Among those rescued from the rising waters was nurse Janetta Barfield, whose car was swept away Friday morning while leaving her overnight shift at Asheville Mission Hospital. He said he watched the car in front drive through the standing water and thought it was safe to continue. But her car stopped, and within minutes the water had filled the front seat up to her chest. A nearby police officer who saw her stall helped her to safety.
“It’s unbelievable how fast that creek comes in just five minutes,” Barfield said.
Erik Verduzco / AP
On Saturday morning, many gas stations were closed because there was no electricity, and some of the ones that were open had queues for an hour. A center for tourism and the arts, home to about 94,000 people, it is still unusual after the floods flooded neighborhoods known to attract visitors including Biltmore Village and the River Arts District, which is home to many galleries, shops and breweries.
More than 700,000 electric customers are without power in North Carolina, including 160,000 in Buncombe County. Interstate 40 and I-26 are impassable in many locations, and state transportation department maps show that most routes to Asheville and over many mountains are blocked. The North Carolina Department of Transportation posted on social media on Saturday evening that “all roads in Western North Carolina should be considered closed.”
In Asheville, there is no cell service and no timeline for when it will be restored.
“We’ve lost some lives,” Van County Emergency Services Director Taylor Jones told reporters. However, he said he was not ready to report specifics. Officials have been prevented from contacting relatives due to communication breakdowns. Asheville Police imposed a curfew from 19:30 Friday to 7:30 Friday.
“This curfew is to ensure public safety and will be in effect until further notice,” the police said.
Asheville transit service was also suspended, police said. The city is advising residents to boil “all water used for human consumption,” as at least one water line will be critical during the storm. Many residents may have no water or reduced or no water pressure.
Jones said the area is experiencing emergency situations that include heavy rain, high winds and landslides. Officials said they tried to prepare for the storm, but the magnitude was beyond what they could have imagined.
“You’re not (not) ready, but this is going to another level,” said Sheriff Quentin Miller. “To say this caught us off-guard would be an understatement.”
Erik Verduzco / AP
Atlanta resident Francine Cavanaugh said she couldn’t reach her sister, son or friends in the Asheville area.
“My sister checked in with me yesterday morning to find out how I’m doing in Atlanta,” he said on Saturday. “The storm just hit him in Asheville, and he said it was outside.”
Cavanaugh said his sister had no idea how bad the storm would be. He told Cavanaugh he was going out to check on guests at the vacation cabin “and that’s the last I’ve heard from him. I’ve texted everyone I know with no response. All calls go to voicemail.”
