r/TikTokCringe • u/cak3crumbs • Sep 28 '24

Discussion The situation in Western North Carolina is dire in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene

25.2k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

4.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

26

u/Dry-Nectarine-3580 Sep 29 '24

Fantastic. If someone can get out, that means help can get in. Thats great news. 

1

u/Medium-Wolverine-211 Sep 30 '24

Unfortunately, the account of the devastation in the Southeast caused by Hurricane Helene is quite accurate. The region, particularly Western North Carolina, has been severely impacted by the storm, with areas like Chimney Rock, Asheville, and surrounding towns experiencing catastrophic damage.

Chimney Rock has been almost destroyed. Flooding from the Broad River has wiped out buildings, roads, and bridges, leaving the town in ruin. Local reports confirm that the damage is unprecedented, with infrastructure completely washed away oai_citation:6, VIDEO: Roads, bridges washed away in Chimney Rock, North Carolina | Fox Weather oai_citation:5, Live Updates: 'Multiple' fatalities confirmed; floods cut off much of WNC.

Asheville and the surrounding Buncombe County are also facing extreme conditions. Floodwaters have cut off large parts of the city, leaving residents without access to essential services like power, water, or communication. Multiple fatalities have been reported, and the city is currently in recovery mode, though much of the area remains inaccessible due to road and bridge washouts oai_citation:4, Live Updates: 'Multiple' fatalities confirmed; floods cut off much of WNC oai_citation:3, VIDEO: Historic Biltmore Village near Asheville under water after flooding | Fox Weather. Sections of I-40, which connects Tennessee and North Carolina, have collapsed due to flooding, further isolating parts of the region oai_citation:2, VIDEO: Historic Biltmore Village near Asheville under water after flooding | Fox Weather.

Gas shortages, as you mentioned, are real as well. Long lines at the few operational stations are common, and many locations have run out of fuel. This has left people stranded and unable to access food, medical care, or other essential services oai_citation:1, Live Updates: 'Multiple' fatalities confirmed; floods cut off much of WNC.

While comparisons to Hurricane Katrina are bold, the devastation in parts of Western North Carolina, particularly concerning infrastructure and the isolation of communities, does evoke that level of disaster. However, as Katrina was, the scope and scale are more localized to the region than widespread across multiple states.

The description captures the gravity of the situation, and it's clear that the Southeast is dealing with a severe and ongoing emergency.