Our hearts are heavy for our neighbors in western North Carolina who have endured such widespread damage from Hurricane Helene. In times of crisis, law enforcement's reach goes far beyond our usual boundaries. Our commitment extends to wherever our law enforcement family needs… pic.twitter.com/t9xmT4aCNn
— CMPD News (@CMPD) September 30, 2024
Hurricane Helene has left many residents in western North Carolina struggling to survive without basic necessities like water, gas, power, and cellphone service. The situation is dire, with people becoming increasingly desperate after being cut off from the outside world for over five days. The lack of communication is a major challenge, as many areas have experienced severe to total communications blackouts due to damaged cell towers and internet services.
This has left residents unable to contact loved ones or emergency personnel, adding to their distress.
Last week, Hurricane Helene made landfall as a powerful, major hurricane in the Big Bend of Florida.
For an in-depth dive into Helene and its impacts, visit our Instagram: https://t.co/BXz28ql1Oi pic.twitter.com/UYN3kauUlL
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) October 1, 2024
Edward Hinson, the chief marketing and sales officer at SkyLine/SkyBest, a telecommunications company serving rural western North Carolina, described the damage to the communications infrastructure as catastrophic. “I don’t know how to articulate how bad the damage is,” he said, noting that the company is still assessing the extent of the destruction.
Power outages across several states in the southeast US outline the path Hurricane Helene took as it traversed inland. pic.twitter.com/WRZjOJtALl
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) September 30, 2024
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 370 of North Carolina’s 1,452 cell sites are out of service due to power outages, with some counties having only 10% or fewer of their cell sites fully functioning.
Hurricane’s impact leaves residents stranded
Internet providers’ disaster contingency plans have been overwhelmed by the severity of the flooding, leaving many areas with slow or nonexistent broadband internet speeds.
The impact on residents is profound, with retired Asheville police officer Steve Antle reporting, “They’re afraid. People are getting on edge. With no power, it’s just a free-for-all at this point.” Local businesses like Dollar General have resorted to cash-only operations to serve the community, while residents like James LaTrella have lost their homes to fallen trees.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel have arrived in the region, but locals report not having seen any federal officials in some areas. Rescue missions are ongoing, with volunteers and relief organizations playing a crucial role in the recovery efforts. As the death toll continues to rise and numerous people remain unaccounted for, residents face an uncertain future.
“This is going to be one that goes down in history books,” said Peter Larson, capturing the sentiment of many who have seen their communities obliterated by the hurricane.
