North Carolina Launches Extensive Search and Rescue Effort Following Helene By Reuters

By Maria Alejandra Cardona and Marco Bello

BAT CAVE, North Carolina (Reuters) – On Monday, emergency crews airlifted essential food and water into remote towns in North Carolina severely affected by Tropical Storm Helene, which transformed the western part of the state into a "post-apocalyptic" environment.

Helene, initially a hurricane, struck the Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday, leaving a trail of destruction across southeastern states, uprooting roads, damaging homes, and disrupting communication lines. In its aftermath, hundreds went unaccounted for, with many feared dead.

The storm claimed the lives of over 100 individuals across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, and the death toll is anticipated to increase as rescue teams reach isolated areas and emergency telecommunications systems come back online.

In North Carolina alone, around 300 roads were closed, and more than 7,000 people sought assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The National Guard was engaged in airlifting 1,000 tons of food and water to remote areas using aircraft, according to officials at a recent news briefing.

Among the hardest-hit locales was the small community of Bat Cave, located approximately 100 miles west of Charlotte. In what climate scientists are describing as a rare 1,000-year event, the Broad River rose to unprecedented heights, sweeping away homes and damaging the town’s bridge.

In the storm’s aftermath, residents carefully navigated a gap in the bridge using a shaky plank.

Aaron Smith, 31, his wife, and their two young sons were seen at the Bat Cave fire station with only one suitcase—everything they could salvage after the Hickory Creek transformed into a raging torrent, destroying three walls of their home and sending a boulder crashing through a bedroom.

"The landscape is unrecognizable," Smith stated. "There are no roads or trees, just water and debris. As for our next steps, I suppose anywhere but here. There’s nothing to return to."

Attempts were made by private helicopters to evacuate residents from Bat Cave, but locals discouraged them from landing on a bridge that appeared unstable. Firefighters marked the structure with a warning: "DON’T LAND."

Bat Cave is situated upstream from Chimney Rock, another community that suffered severe damage due to the rushing waters of the Broad River, according to emergency responders.

The river eventually flows into Lake Lure, now filled with remnants of homes, trees, and various debris. Charlotte City Councilman Tariq Bokhari shared a video detailing the devastation at Lake Lure, labeling it "post-apocalyptic."

"It’s overwhelming," Bokhari commented. "It’s hard to even imagine what the recovery process will entail, or where to even begin."

A BROAD RECOVERY EFFORT

A wide-ranging recovery initiative is underway across the southeastern United States, with thousands left without access to running water and an estimated 1.8 million homes and businesses experiencing power outages on Monday.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp reported that at least 25 individuals in his state lost their lives due to the storm, including a firefighter responding to emergency calls and a mother along with her one-month-old twins who were tragically killed by a falling tree. South Carolina has confirmed at least 29 fatalities.

According to various reports, the national death toll stands at 128, with 56 casualties in North Carolina alone. In Buncombe County, known for the tourist destination Asheville, 40 deaths were reported.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper surveyed the damage from the air, stating that "significant resources" would be required for recovery in both the short and long term.

"The devastation is beyond belief. Even with preparation, nothing could have prepared us for the unprecedented impact of this storm in western North Carolina. Search and rescue teams are still in operation," Cooper remarked during a news briefing.

Around 1,200 federal personnel are on the ground alongside state and local responders, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers organizing extensive debris removal operations. In total, approximately 3,000 federal personnel have been deployed throughout the affected region, as noted by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.

President Joe Biden, linking the storm’s destruction to climate change, announced he would visit North Carolina on Wednesday, with plans to travel to Georgia and Florida soon afterward. He may also call for a special session of Congress to secure supplemental aid funding.

"There’s nothing like the uncertainty of wondering if your loved ones are safe," Biden expressed at the White House. "Many people will remain without power, water, food, and communication, with their homes and businesses lost in an instant. I want them to know we’ll be here until the job is done."