Helene brings heavy rain, flooding to North Carolina: See photos, videos of damage
Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY
Updated
Flood waters from the French Broad River cover the River Arts District in Asheville, North Carolina on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
Hurricane Helene left her mark in North Carolina, and many residents are trying to piece together the devastation she left behind.
Helene brought heavy rainfall, intense winds, damaging debris, and flooding to the state. Power outages and life-threatening flash flooding were reported in the western part of the state.
In many areas in North Carolina, like Chimney Rock and Asheville, residents saw heavy rain. The highest reported rainfall was 29.5 inches in Busick Raws, Yancey County, North Carolina’s Gov. Roy Cooper’s office said.
The heavy rainfall caused the Rutherford County's Emergency Management to issue an immediate evacuation notice to its residents near the Lake Lure Dam on Friday morning.
By Friday evening, the county government office shared an update on the dam's water levels.
“Lake Lure water levels are no longer rising and are beginning to recede,” the county government office wrote in a Facebook post. “Emergency personnel have rescued over 25 individuals through swift water rescue, EMS, fire departments, and law enforcement efforts.”
The emergency personnel shared an update around 9:00 p.m. local time, stating that the storm left many phone lines out of service across the county, especially in Lake Lure.
According to the USA TODAY power outage map, there were 635,887 total outages reported in North Carolina on Saturday afternoon.
Watch video of damage Helene left in Asheville, North Carolina
Helene slams North Carolina: See photos of damage
A large limb of a tree lies on the sidewalk on the corner of Broadway Street and West Walnut Street in downtown Asheville.
Bystanders watch the muddy waters of the French Broad River inundating the River Arts District
The French Broad River rises above its banks in the River Arts District on Friday, September 26. Hurricane Helene is bringing heavy rains to Asheville.
A truck drives through standing water on Lyman Street on Friday, September 26. Hurricane Helene is bringing heavy rains to Asheville.
The French Broad River rises above its banks in the River Arts District on Friday, September 26. Hurricane Helene is bringing heavy rains to Asheville.
Wind whips the American flag as the Ewing family from North Carolina walks up the ramp to the Big Four Bridge on Friday, September 27, 2024.
Children walk past the collapsed portion of a bridge after flood waters destroyed it during Tropical Storm Helene, in Boone, North Carolina, U.S.
Workers survey a large section of Highway 105 that washed away because of flood waters during Tropical Storm Helene, on the outskirts of Boone, North Carolina, U.S. September 27, 2024.
The foundation and earth below a part of a building lies swept away by flood waters after Tropical Storm Helene, on the outskirts of Boone, North Carolina, U.S.
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 27: People look at flood damage on September 27, 2024 in Boone, North Carolina. Heavy rains caused severe flooding in many parts of the mountains.
Florida and Georgia also saw Helene's wrath: See damage
A drone view shows a flooded and damaged area following Hurricane Helene in Horseshoe Beach, Florida, U.S.
Debris of damaged houses are seen after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Horseshoe Beach, Florida, on September 28, 2024. At least 44 people died across five US states battered by powerful storm Helene, authorities said on September 27, after torrential flooding prompted emergency responders to launch massive rescue operations.
A car in a flooded street is seen after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 27, 2024. Hurricane Helene weakened on September 27 hours after it made landfall in the US state of Florida, with officials warning the storm remained "extremely dangerous" as it surged inland, leaving flooded roads and homes in its wake.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 27: People toss buckets of water out of a home as the streets and homes are flooded near Peachtree Creek after hurricane Helene brought in heavy rains over night on September 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Hurricane Helene made landfall late Thursday night as a category 4 hurricane in the pan handle of Florida and is working its way north, it is now considered a tropical storm.
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.
