### Hurricane Helene's Aftermath Devastates Asheville, N.C.

The remnants of Hurricane Helene brought monumental disruption to Asheville, North Carolina, leaving the mountain city largely isolated due to severely damaged roads, power outages, and disrupted communication networks. The catastrophic weather has resulted in several fatalities, though the exact number remains unknown due to ongoing challenges in contacting relatives.

North Carolina is grappling with widespread devastation, particularly with more than 400 roads still closed on Saturday as floodwaters start to recede. Governor Roy Cooper announced that essential supplies are being airlifted to the hardest-hit areas. State officials confirmed that at least seven individuals in North Carolina have died due to the hurricane, contributing to a broader death toll of 57 across several states.

A dramatic rescue took place involving Janetta Barfield, a nurse whose vehicle was engulfed in water on Friday morning. Barfield, who had just completed a night shift at Asheville's Mission Hospital, attempted to drive through what seemed like manageable water only to find her car rapidly filling with floodwater. A police officer nearby intervened and rescued her from the rising waters. “It was unbelievable how fast that creek rose in just five minutes,” Barfield recounted.

As of early Saturday, most gas stations in Asheville were closed due to power outages, resulting in long lines at the few stations that remained operational. The city's normally bustling areas, such as Biltmore Village and the River Arts District, were eerily quiet as floodwaters overwhelmed neighborhoods typically popular with tourists.

With over 700,000 power customers affected across the state and 160,000 of those in Buncombe County alone, the infrastructure remains crippled. Key interstates, including I-40 and I-26, were impassable at several points. A state transportation department map indicated that most routes into and around Asheville were clogged or closed. The North Carolina Department of Transportation advised on social media that "all roads in Western North Carolina should be considered closed."

Communication lines were also down, with no estimate for when service might be restored. “We have seen some loss of life,” noted County Emergency Services Director Van Taylor Jones, though he refrained from providing specific numbers due to difficulties in reaching next of kin amid the communication blackouts. In a bid to ensure public safety, Asheville police set a curfew from 7:30 p.m. on Friday to 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, which may be extended.

Besides the curfew, all public transit services in Asheville were suspended, and residents were advised to boil water for consumption due to a significant water line break. Many were experiencing no or reduced water pressure.

Reflecting on the overwhelming emergencies, Sheriff Quentin Miller acknowledged the enormity of the disaster. “It's not that we were not prepared, but this is going to another level,” he said. “To say this caught us off-guard would be an understatement.”

Among those anxiously trying to contact loved ones is Atlanta resident Francine Cavanaugh, who has not been able to reach her sister, son, or friends in Asheville. "My sister checked in with me yesterday morning to see how I was doing in Atlanta," Cavanaugh shared. “The storm was just hitting her in Asheville, and she mentioned it sounded really scary outside.” Since then, she hasn’t received any further updates and all her attempts to get in touch have been unsuccessful.