ASHEVILLE, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a briefing Friday morning that there had been two storm-related deaths in the state and he expected more to come.
Close to 300 roads were closed and over 100 swift-water rescues had occurred so far, Cooper said.
He added that the storm, particularly in western North Carolina, is causing life-threatening flash flooding, numerous landslides and power outages from downed trees.
“The priority now is saving lives,” Cooper said, telling people to stay off the roads unless they were seeking higher ground.
“With the rain that they already had been experiencing before Helene’s arrival, this is one of the worst storms in modern history for parts of western North Carolina,” Cooper said.
Portions of Interstates 40 and 26 were closed due to flooding, officials said. U.S. 74 in the Asheville area was completely flooded over by 11 a.m. Friday.
More than 50 swift-water rescues were conducted from floodwaters in the greater Asheville area in Buncombe County as of Friday morning. The French Broad River and Swannanoa River both rose to record flood levels above major flood stage in Biltmore Village and Fletcher areas south of Asheville. Both rivers are expected to continue rising higher into Friday evening.
Up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the town of Boone experiences massive flooding. Water covered the road along the downtown area.
“This is the most significant natural disaster that any one of us has ever seen in western North Carolina,” said Ryan Cole, the county’s assistant emergency services director.