On Saturday, the largest mountain city in North Carolina was reportedly largely cut off by floodwaters caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
The city was also left without power and cellphone service, and its roads were damaged.
This was part of a swath of destruction that engulfed southern Appalachia, resulting in an unknown number of fatalities and countless worried relatives who were unable to contact their loved ones.
On Saturday alone, over 400 highways in North Carolina were still closed as floodwaters began to recede and the full extent of the damage was revealed.
According to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, supplies were being airlifted to that region of the state.
Helene has resulted in the deaths of at least ten individuals in North Carolina, with a total mortality toll of at least 63 individuals across multiple states.
Nurse Janetta Barfield was among those rescued from the rising waters.
Her vehicle was submerged on Friday morning as she departed from an overnight shift at Mission Hospital in Asheville.
She stated that she observed a vehicle in front of her navigate through standing water and believed it was safe to continue.
Aerial footage captures the extensive flooding in Asheville, North Carolina, as Helene submerged buildings. pic.twitter.com/15R89vWTvf
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) September 28, 2024
Nevertheless, her vehicle suddenly stalled, and within minutes, the front seat was submerged in water, reaching her torso.
She was assisted by a police officer who was in close proximity and observed her vehicle halt.
Many gas stations were closed early on Saturday morning due to a lack of electricity, and the few that were open had hourlong lines that extended around the block.
After floodwaters inundated neighborhoods that are known for attracting visitors, such as Biltmore Village and the River Arts District, which is home to numerous galleries, shops, and breweries, the hub of tourism and arts, which is home to approximately 94,000 people, was unusually quiet.
In North Carolina, over 700,000 power customers were without power, with 160,000 of them located in Buncombe County.
Interstate 40 and I-26 were impassible in numerous locations, and a schematic provided by the state transportation department indicated that the majority of routes into Asheville and across the majority of the mountains were congested.
[READ MORE: DeSantis Appoints Prosecutor to Investigate Republican Party in the Florida Keys]
