North Carolina News

Helene’s devastation was widespread, reaching many western North Carolina communities, including the small town of Lansing in Ashe County. Residents on Tuesday told WRAL News the draw to living in a place like Ashe County is the isolation from a fast pace of life. For those who live there, the isolation now feels more like an island, with community members banding together to help many businesses flooded by Helene. The flooding was so severe in Lansing…

Raleigh firefighters are among rescue crews from across the country heading to western North Carolina to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Task Force 8 is a search-and-rescue team from Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The new group will spend at least a week in the town of Weaverville to help with rescues. “I feel comfortable saying this is the most significant in-state disaster our team has ever responded to,” said Raleigh Division Chief…

By Louis Fernandez, WRAL Sports NC State defensive lineman Davin Vann, with support from Wolfpack Athletics, is collecting supplies this week to assist those in need after Hurricane Helene impacted the western part of North Carolina, the school announced on Monday. According to the program, Vann spoke with NC State head coach Dave Doeren on Monday with the plan. “Really proud of and thankful for Davin and his family,” Doeren said in his weekly press…

Two correctional facilities in western North Carolina were evacuated Monday due to flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene. The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) relocated 400 inmates from the Western Correctional Center for Women in Swannanoa and the Black Mountain Substance Abuse Treatment Center for Women in Black Mountain. The evacuation decision was made based on the anticipated extended timeframe for restoring water and power to these facilities. All inmates were safely transferred…

An hour east of Asheville sits Ellenboro Township, where Hurricane Helene left trees and powerlines strewn across roads, making transportation – even for help with storm cleanup – impossible. “On our back roads and whatnot, there are some trees and power lines that haven’t been touched even as of today,” Brad Cummings said on Monday, four days after the storm had passed. Cummings – a father of two with another child on the way –…

The devastation from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina is reminding some people in the state of the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018 – and the long wait for aid that followed. WRAL News spoke with William Bullock, survivor of those hurricanes, who explained his painful and lengthy road to recovery. “We had water in the road,” Bullock recalled from Hurricane Matthew. “We had water just about this…

By Louis Fernandez, WRAL Sports NC State defensive lineman Davin Vann, with support from Wolfpack Athletics, is collecting supplies this week to assist those in need after Hurricane Helene impacted the western part of North Carolina, the school announced on Monday. According to the program, Vann spoke with NC State head coach Dave Doeren on Monday with the plan. “Really proud of and thankful for Davin and his family,” Doeren said in his weekly press…

City of Asheville and Buncombe County leaders are starting to distribute critical supplies, including food and water after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Buncombe County leaders confirmed Monday that 40 people in the county have died from impacts from Helene. The distribution of supplies comes after Friday’s historic flooding left hundreds of thousands of people without water, food, power and cell service. As of 4 p.m. ET Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper said North Carolina…

Four people who were in critical condition at the hospital got released Monday after last week’s EF3 tornado in Rocky Mount. Friday’s tornado brought on by Helene injured 15 people overall. A state of emergency remains in effect for Rocky Mount on Monday. City of Rocky Mount plans examiner Luis Ramirez Jr. said Monday that city leaders have not been able to quantify the extent of the damage. “We have not looked into the values,”…

Devastated business owners returned to Biltmore Village on Monday to assess the extensive damage to their properties after Helene dropped more than 14 inches of rain in Asheville. Destruction in Biltmore Village, a popular tourist attraction just outside the famous Biltmore mansion, is widespread. The flooding was largely from the Swannanoa River, which has since receded, but not before water reached above the hoods of cars and trucks, Some residents said the water in Biltmore…

Devastated business owners returned to Biltmore Village on Monday to assess the extensive damage to their properties after Helene dropped more than 14 inches of rain in Asheville. Destruction in Biltmore Village, a popular tourist attraction just outside the famous Biltmore mansion, is widespread. The flooding was largely from the Swannanoa River, which has since receded, but not before water reached above the hoods of cars and trucks, Some residents said the water in Biltmore…