Hurricane Helene may have come and gone, but the remnants of the powerful storm — which first made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast — traveled up the eastern seaboard and triggered heavy rains and flooding as far west as Tennessee.
As predicted, Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane just west of Perry, Florida, late Thursday night — and set a new record for the strongest storm to hit the state’s Big Bend region.
While the strong winds were devastating, massive storm surges caused life-threatening flash floods and devastated entire towns. Almost every property saw some damage when the storm surge left Horseshoe Beach, Florida.
The National Hurricane Center warned before Helen hit Florida that conditions were ripe for flooding and landslides in the southern Appalachians. “This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Numerous landslides are expected in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians,” a statement read.
In the days since, that prediction has also proved true as photos and videos of the floods and damages have continued to crop up on social media into the weekend.
“Massive debris flow traveling at lightning speed in eastern TN! The preceding drought conditions followed by days of rain ahead of Hurricane Helene set the stage. This is incredibly rapid for a debris flow,” meteorologist Reed Timmer posted.
Flooding also caused major damage to roads in North Carolina, leaving some major highways — particularly in the western part of the state — impassable.
“All roads in and out of Asheville, NC are still closed! It sounds like Asheville is still only accessible by air unless you head up from I26, and even then you will encounter closures before the city. This is an absolute mega disaster for western NC on the order of Hurricane Katrina,” Timmer posted.
Chimney Rock Village also saw devastating flooding that took out major roads leading in and out.
Boone, N.C., was also hit with dangerous flooding and debris flows.
Miles of Tennessee farmland were also left underwater as the ground quickly saturated and heavy rains had nowhere to go. “Tennessee farmland and the devastation hard working farmers must face. Pray for the farmers. They work so hard as it is and many can’t afford flood insurance and virtually none have hurricane insurance,” one posted. “#Helene took their livelihood.”
Video from Afton, Tennessee, showed flood waters taking out the Kisner Bridge over the Nolichucky River.
Some major roads in Tennessee were also rendered impassable due to floods and debris.
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