Raleigh North Carolina News

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…

Many high schools in North Carolina are putting together efforts to help the victims of flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Some schools are planning supply drives, others are raising money for organizations who are directly involved in relief efforts. HighSchoolOT is collecting a list of events where you can help make a difference for those impacted by the flooding. If you are a representative of a school and would like us…

Two deputies in western North Carolina have died, according to the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association. In a Facebook post, the organization stated that both deputies lost their lives due to flooding and hazardous conditions caused by tropical storm Helene. One deputy was from the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, and the other was from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Both were killed in the raging floodwaters. The NC Sheriffs’ Association asked everyone to keep the families,…

Appalachian State University announced Saturday it will be closed for several days as the town of Boone recovers from Helene. Helene moved through North Carolina on Friday as a Tropical Storm, with several mountain towns suffering the worst of the impacts in the state. According to the school, classes will remain closed through Friday, Oct. 5, on both Boone and Hickory campuses, and the university will operate under an “Adverse Weather Condition 3” status. Flooding…

By The Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper and his wife Nicole have made an initial $3 million commitment to Hurricane Helene relief efforts through their foundation. It’s to support immediate and long-term humanitarian aid and recovery efforts in North and South Carolina in the wake of devastation from the Category 4 storm. The region remains in a state of emergency, and more than 50 people have died. “The David…

There were 15 people injured after a confirmed tornado Friday afternoon in Rocky Mount, according to Nash County Emergency Management. The National Weather Service said an EF-3 tornado touched down around 1:31 p.m. Friday with estimated peak winds of 140 mph. Four of the injuries are considered serious, city of Rocky Mount and Nash County leaders said. However, city and county leaders said no children were injured. “It sounded like a train, like a freight…

There were 15 people injured after a confirmed tornado Friday afternoon in Rocky Mount, according to Nash County Emergency Management. The National Weather Service said an EF-3 tornado touched down around 1:31 p.m. Friday with estimated peak winds of 140 mph. Four of the injuries are considered serious, city of Rocky Mount and Nash County leaders said. However, city and county leaders said no children were injured. “It sounded like a train, like a freight…

A viewer named Terry Watson shared a picture with WRAL News of an apparent tornado on Friday in Granville County. The National Weather Service [NWS] issued a tornado warning until 7:15 p.m. Friday for Granville and Person counties. Video shows what appears to be a tornado going across Interstate 85 near Oxford. The area is near Vance-Granville Community College. WRAL News has reached out to the NWS to confirm if a tornado touched down. The…

There were 15 people injured after a confirmed tornado Friday afternoon in Rocky Mount, according to Nash County Emergency Management. The National Weather Service said the tornado touched down around 1:31 p.m. Friday. Four of the injuries are considered serious, city of Rocky Mount and Nash County leaders said. However, city and county leaders said no children were injured. There were 14 buildings damaged from the tornado, according to Nash County Emergency Management. “Right now,…