Raleigh North Carolina News

Tropical Storm Helene has left a trail of devastation in the Black Mountain area, with severe flooding that has impacted entire communities. In Asheville, residents are now facing long journeys, traveling for hours by ATV and on foot just to reach the Garren Creek community. The destruction, as described by the local fire chief, is beyond words. Wade Wright, the longtime Garren Creek Fire Chief, has seen his community nearly wiped out. Despite the personal…

Falling trees and raging floods from Hurricane Helene killed more than 150 people when it struck Florida late last week and then plowed through the Southeast as one of the deadliest storms in U.S. history. People died in six states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Among them were first responders who perished in wind-ravaged and rain-soaked communities, often while trying to help others. Not all were human: An eastern Tennessee police…

Just minutes into the V-P debate, both candidates expressed their condolences to the thousands affected by Helene, especially those in western North Carolina. Officials at Beech Mountain have postponed the sale of season passes and are currently discussing whether the area will be able to open for the season. Meanwhile, many in our community are still desperately searching for missing family members and friends, as parts of western North Carolina remain cut off from the…

Currently, many people in the western part of the state remain unaccounted for as search and rescue teams work tirelessly. John Norwood considers himself a miracle survivor. Rescuers used a pulley system to bring him to safety over dangerous floodwaters, but his fiancée is still missing. Norwood had been inside a home in Marion, North Carolina, where severe damage occurred. The dramatic rescue, captured on cell phone video, unfolded as Hurricane Helene swept through McDowell…

By Louis Fernandez, WRAL Sports Raleigh, N.C. — After the NC State Wolfpack beat Northern Illinois on Saturday in Carter-Finley Stadium, Joy Hall did what you’d expect the mother of a football player to do: give her son, defensive lineman Davin Vann, a phone call. “I kind of called him to see how he was feeling, just check in with him,” Hall said. During that call, they spoke about Hurricane Helene and its impact on…

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 isolation from a fast pace of life. Those who live in Lansing said the isolation now feels more like an island, with community members banding together to help the many homes and businesses flooded by Helene. People are using…

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,”…