North Carolina residents are detailing how their communities have been “destroyed” by Hurricane Helene’s historic storm surge, with hundreds of people missing.
Swannanoa resident Zach Dasher said his town, located just 10 miles east of hard-hit Asheville, is “absolutely devastated” as the storm’s death toll continues to rise.
“Our little town here is completely destroyed,” Dasher said. “Fox & Friends First” Tuesday co-host Carly Shimkus.
“I’m talking about how not only are the buildings on one side of the road gone, but the land on which the building stood is no longer there. It is complete devastation. A lot of people lost their lives. People from our church who were helping with the rescue came out of the flood, they saw people losing their lives… We don’t have a final count or anything like that… It’s devastating.”
He added, “I’ve never seen anything like it.” “Bridges, infrastructure, it’s all been destroyed… it will take years to build it back up.”
Communities in western North Carolina were particularly hard hit by the effects of Hurricane Helene. objectionable flood Hundreds of roads and bridges were destroyed. Access to many areas has been cut off, leaving crews unable to get much-needed supplies like food, water and fuel to residents.
dozens of people The dead are now confirmed in North Carolina, and hundreds are missing due to lack of power and communications access.
Appalachian State University student Dana Lurex said her apartment building was hit by a tree during strong wind gusts Friday morning, and if it had hit the other side of the building, it would have fallen into her bedroom.
A van in floodwaters near Biltmore Village after Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina on September 28, 2024. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Big Bend, Florida on Thursday night with winds of 140 mph. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
“The storm that hit us was devastating. None of us expected to be hit as badly as we were,” Leureux told Trace Gallagher during “Fox News @ Night” on Monday. “The tree went through my building at 6 a.m. on Friday. And yes, I live on the other side of the building and if the tree had fallen on the side of my building, the tree would have gone through my bedroom.”
He added, “Fortunately, everyone survived and we’re all OK, but it was devastating.” “I have friends who have lost their apartments, their cars, all their stuff… The city of Boone is devastated. We’ve never experienced anything like this… As a community, we need to come together and help everyone He’s gone through this disaster,
Panthers owners donated $3 million to Hurricane Helene relief efforts; BUCS also gives 7 marks
At least 128 people have been confirmed dead in six states – Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee – since the storm struck on Thursday.
A passerby checks the depth of water on a flooded road in Morganton, North Carolina, on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Torrential rains from Hurricane Helene left roads in many areas flooded. Apart from this, traffic lights are not working due to no electricity, downed power lines and trees. (AP Photo/Kathy Komonicek)
Widespread power outages continue across the region, although some progress has been made in restoring critical infrastructure damaged by Helen.
While power outages fell below 2 million for the first time since the storm, about 1.6 million homes and businesses live without electricity As of Tuesday in the most affected states.
Dasher, who is already working with the children’s shelter to coordinate relief efforts, urged other local churches and the federal government to get involved as communities begin to pick up the pieces from the historic, life-changing storm. Used to be.
Dasher said, “I hope churches in this area step up. I hope donations come in. I hope the government comes out with a big financial aid package to help.” “Because here’s the deal…it’s not like a flood that comes and then goes back and you ruin everything and go back to work.”
He added, “Our infrastructure has been severely damaged or destroyed, and so there has to be a lot of rebuilding to get commerce back, to get kids back to school.” “I don’t know how long this effort will last, but I have to imagine it will take several years because of the devastation.”
Biden approved Major Disaster Declaration for North Carolina Over the weekend, more than 800 Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel, along with distribution centers and equipment, were deployed to states affected by Helen.
Fox Weather’s Steven Yablonsky and Emily Speck contributed to this report.
