Death toll triples in Asheville area after Hurricane Helene guts North Carolina: ‘There were bodies in the trees’

NY Post ^ | September 30, 2024 | Jared Downing

[Red Badger]

The death toll from catastrophic flooding in the Asheville area of western North Carolina more than tripled on Monday to 35 — as survivors in remote mountain towns described seeing the bodies of victims stuck in trees.

Nationwide, there have been 120 fatalities from Hurricane Helene, which has cut a path of death and destruction across the Southeast since making landfall last Thursday.

The rains smashed the mountains of Buncombe County, which contains Asheville, washing away whole communities in floodwaters and mudslides. Roadways were buried or washed away, leaving victims cut off from rescue crews.

“There were bodies in trees. They were finding bodies under rubble,” said Alyssa Hudson, whose home of Black Mountain — a village of 8,400 people about 12 miles from Asheville — was all but washed away.

[Ozymandias Ghost]

“...guess there are still visible landslide scars on the mountain sides in Nelson County...”
_____________________
Linked below is an article w/videos from a Harrisonburg, Va TV station recalling Camille 55 years after the floods in VA. Apparently the scars from the mudslides are now reforested; however, the article concludes with: “Anne Witte of the Virginia Division of Mines, Minerals and Energy has scanned the area with LIDAR, ground penetrating radar. She has now counted more than 5,000 landslides from the storm.”

A correction from my original post per the cited article above indicates the death toll I mentioned (124) was just in Nelson County. The total from VA was 153 lives lost.

https://www.whsv.com/2024/08/20/hurricane-camille-look-back-55-years-later/

[quilterdebbie]

Wow!

[quilterdebbie]

True. I don’t agree with the politics of that area, but I don’t wish them harm.

[dforest]

Saw on X that the bodies of 60 people have been found in the trees in an area there.

So very sad. They probably had people looking for them. 🥹

[quilterdebbie]

Yes it is! I have in-laws who live in that area. Luckily they are all safe.

[dforest]

O great, I am glad your family is safe. Life will be tough for many around there for a long time.

[gitmo]

Thank you.

[gitmo]

I’m glad you heard from your relatives. I’m not giving up hope at all. Thanks.

[blueplum]

many pictures here:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13909127/Tragic-final-photo-grandparents-perched-roof-flooded-Asheville-home-swept-away-grandson.html
(600 people remain missing)

and

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13911257/hurricane-helene-sweeps-kim-ashby-away-north-carolina.html

towns mentioned: Ashville, Swannanoa, Lake Lure, Burnsville, Chimney Rock, Morganton, Old Fort, Mill Creek, Charlotte City, Elk River/Elk Park
in TN: Pigeon River/Newport

Good news:

NASCAR drivers and others with private helicopters are assisting with food/water drops:
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a62445201/hurricane-helene-nascar-teams-help-helicopters/

Bad news:
Spaghetti Models Show Three Storms’ Paths in Wake of Hurricane Helene
https://www.newsweek.com/spaghetti-models-show-three-storms-paths-hurricane-helene-1961438

[blueplum]

more here:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/hurricane/2024/09/29/hurricane-forecast-florida-gulf-coast-must-watch-brewing-storm-helene-track/75441422007/
towns mentioned in this series not mentioned in the above post:
GA: Atlanta
NC: Red Hill, Hendersonville, Boone, Sugar Grove,
SC: Anderson, Williamston, Greenville
TN: Erwin

[Red Badger]

[who knows what evil?]

We have a couple of contacts in Asheville city that stated that the “stench from dead bodies” is overwhelming; naked children in streets looking for parents...third party, but this comes from some local dentists that can’t get home to Tennessee side.

[Red Badger]

The death toll may reach thousands....................

[blueplum]

RIP Scotty dog
From Erwin, TN, Bumpass Cove area:
K-9 Officer Scotty “was staying with a fellow officer as McKinney was due to leave for vacation. However, the home was completely destroyed by the rushing waters.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tennessee-k-9-dog-found-dead-after-disappearing-during-devastating-hurricane-helene-floods/ar-AA1rusaE

[RckyRaCoCo]

It’s beginning to smell like Biden’s Katrina Moment.

It would be...if media wasn't so far up the 'rats ass.

[Solson]

I’ve also heard the infrastructure beyond lines and poles is severely compromised. I know Blue Ridge energy is energizing the substations but underground lines are apparently compromised as well.

[blueplum]

there’s a chart at this link that shows the rainfall totals over 3 days (Sep 25-27) but I don’t know how to lift it and paste it here.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-helene-biblical-devastation-north-carolina-near-worst-case-scenario/

Incredible amount of water - worse than our west coast ‘atmospheric rivers’ by a factor of 3 at the least. The “integrated vapour transport”(IVT) for the British Columbia floods in 2021 was 1000 kg/m2; the IVT for North Carolina was more than 3,000 kg/m2 and that was After the 3 preceeding days of rain.
https://news.yahoo.com/news/hurricane-helene-vs-b-c-005317313.html

[Red Badger]

[Albion Wilde]

How to help hurricane victims

Samaritan's Purse, Franklin Graham's very well-regarded international disaster relief organization, is located in Boone, NC. Samaritan's Purse is already helping its home town, as well as the flooded areas of NC, SC, GA & FL.

Any freepers wishing to help? Samaritan's Purse is a great way to connect. Click above to donate or to view their video of setting up field hospitals and delivering supplies.

[smokingfrog]

I’m glad to hear that your friend and pets are safe.