by Helen Tansey at The T-Room
Following reports out of Florida through to Asheville, North Carolina, Hurricane Helen left massive devastation to people, their pets, their livestock, their lives, homes, roadways, flooded rivers and creeks, communication lines, electric lines, dams breached everywhere.
Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding area had already been experiencing heavy rainfalls prior to Helene. The land, according to eyewitness accounts, was already saturated when a reported 19 inches of rain fell over a 24-hour period. Can you imagine?
The only way you get to many of these towns tucked away throughout the Appalachian and Blue Ridge mountains is windy two-lane roads. So many videos I’ve watched show so many of these roads washed out making them impassable by any first responders, electric linesman restoring power, gasoline tankers delivering gas, delivery of food and water and so much more.
Bridges are washed out making it impossible to deliver any goods to those who need them.
October is the beginning of the tourist season too. It’s the time when folks get out into the mountains to take in the beauty of the fall foliage whether driving, biking, hiking or kayaking. The Asheville area is a mecca attracting such outdoor recreation. Now, you can’t even get into these areas.
Asheville’s Mayor, Esther Manheimer, explains the sheer destruction Helene wrought to her town and surrounding areas in this short interview.
WATCH:
Here’s another video of the destruction throughout Biltmore Village in Asheville, North Carolina. Reports state the water from the Swannanoa River swelled to as high as 15 feet at the height of the storm.
WATCH: