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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.
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.
Aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Murdock Avenue in Asheville on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressAftermath of Tropical Storm Helene around Beaver Lake in Asheville on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressAftermath of Tropical Storm Helene around Beaver Lake in Asheville on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressAftermath of Tropical Storm Helene around Beaver Lake in Asheville on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressAftermath of Tropical Storm Helene around Beaver Lake in Asheville on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressAftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressAftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressAftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressAftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCrews worked to clear downed trees near UNC Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding on the edge of the River Arts District of Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding on the edge of the River Arts District of Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding on the edge of the River Arts District of Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding on the edge of the River Arts District of Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding on the edge of the River Arts District of Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding on the edge of the River Arts District of Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding on the edge of the River Arts District of Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding along Depot Street in the River Arts District of Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding along Depot Street in the River Arts District of Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding along Depot Street in the River Arts District of Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding along Depot Street in the River Arts District of Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressAsheville residents gather on a bridge overlooking the French Broad River after catastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCatastrophic flooding in Asheville’s River Arts District in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressCrews worked cutting trees from power lines along Biltmore Avenue in Asheville in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the Swannanoa and French Broad rivers in Biltmore Village in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the Swannanoa and French Broad rivers in Biltmore Village in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the Swannanoa and French Broad rivers in Biltmore Village in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the Swannanoa and French Broad rivers in Biltmore Village in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the Swannanoa and French Broad rivers in Biltmore Village in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the Swannanoa and French Broad rivers in Biltmore Village in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the Swannanoa and French Broad rivers in Biltmore Village in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressDowned trees in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the French Broad River on Depot Street in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the French Broad River in the River Arts District in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the French Broad River in the River Arts District in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the French Broad River in the River Arts District in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the French Broad River in the River Arts District in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the French Broad River in the River Arts District in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the French Broad River in the River Arts District in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressLong lines for gas along Biltmore Avenue in Asheville, on Sept. 28, 2024, a day after Tropical Storm Helene swept through. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressLong lines for gas along Biltmore Avenue in Asheville, on Sept. 28, 2024, a day after Tropical Storm Helene swept through. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressLong lines for gas along Biltmore Avenue in Asheville, on Sept. 28, 2024, a day after Tropical Storm Helene swept through. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressLong lines for gas along Biltmore Avenue in Asheville, on Sept. 28, 2024, a day after Tropical Storm Helene swept through. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressPeople gathered to use wifi from the Moxy Hotel in downtown Asheville on Sept. 28, 2024, a day after Tropical Storm Helene swept through. Cell service and Wi-Fi were virtually nonexistent as late on Sept. 28. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressPeople gathered to use wifi from the Moxy Hotel in downtown Asheville on Sept. 28, 2024, a day after Tropical Storm Helene swept through. Cell service and Wi-Fi were virtually nonexistent as of late on Sept. 28. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the French Broad River in the River Arts District in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public PressFlooding from the French Broad River in the River Arts District in Asheville, after Tropical Storm Helene swept through on Sept. 27, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press
Correction: A spokesperson for Mission Health told CPP on Sept. 29 that no plans are in place to evacuate either Mission Hospital in Asheville or Blue Ridge Hospital in Spruce Pine. Due to earlier conflicting reports from multiple sources, an earlier version of this referenced possible evacuation plans at each of those facilities. In light of the company’s statement, all reference to any idea hospital evacuation has been removed from the article.
