Drone footage shows historic devastation in Asheville, NC after Helene

Severe weather and historic flooding from Hurricane Helene killed at least 100 people across the Southeast, including in Asheville, North Carolina, where residents are struggling for resources amid gas and water shortages.

Since the system made landfall late Thursday in the Big Bend area of Florida, there have been hundreds of water rescues in the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. Power outages left over 2 million homes and businesses in the dark on Monday.

In Asheville, torrential rain destroyed vehicles and homes and left streets flooded. At least 35 people died in Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, although the death toll is expected to rise, the sheriff said Monday. Officials also received about 600 missing person reports, many of which are believed to be due to communications failures.

Helene also caused severe damage to the city's water system, Asheville officials said in a statement Saturday.

“Extensive repairs are required to treatment facilities, underground and above-ground water mains, and washed-away roads that prevent water personnel from accessing portions of the system,” the city of Asheville said in the statement.

View drone footage of flooding in Asheville, North Carolina

Estimates: Helene caused between $15 billion and $100 billion in damage

Insurers and forecasters have predicted the catastrophic damage caused by Helene to be between $15 billion and $100 billion.

“We have biblical devastation across the county,” said Ryan Cole, deputy director of Buncombe County Emergency Services. “We had a biblical flood here.”

President Joe Biden has sent Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell to remain on site in Asheville “until the situation stabilizes,” the agency said Monday.

“We will continue to provide resources like food, water, communications and life-saving equipment,” Biden said. “I’m serious – however long it takes to get this job done.”

According to FEMA, there were 10 federal search and rescue teams in the region on Monday and nine other teams totaling 900 active personnel. The agency will also bring essentials to the ground, including 25 trailerloads of meals, 60 trailerloads of water and a C-17 cargo plane full of food and water. The agency also uses Starlink satellites to improve responder communications and has 18 helicopters on standby to transport more needed resources.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has also brought more than 500 National Guard soldiers and airmen and over 200 vehicles and aircraft to help save lives in affected areas.

View drone footage of flooding in Asheville, North Carolina

Estimates: Helene caused between $15 billion and $100 billion in damage

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