Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida; WNC reports flooding and outages

On the trail of Helene

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(11:10 p.m.) – News 13’s Jason Boyer reports that Hurricane Helene has made landfall in Florida.

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(11 p.m.) – News 13’s Jason Boyer reports that Hurricane Helene is set to hit Florida any moment.

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(9:45 p.m.) – News 13 captured photos of businesses at Biltmore Village in Asheville preparing for Hurricane Helene.

(8:15 p.m.) – Significant flooding is expected along the French Broad River Valley, according to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office says residents in Etowah, Mills River and Fletcher should make plans to evacuate if the river is expected to continue rising.

For more information about emergency preparedness in Henderson County, click here Here.

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(6:15 p.m.) – Buncombe County announced that resources are available for residents who wish to evacuate in light of the ongoing local state of emergency. According to the district, an estimated 15,000 residents could be affected.

Residents can click to see whether their homes are in flood zones Here.

Shelters are also available and open at First Baptist Church in Swannanoa and Trinity Baptist in West Asheville.

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(3:30 p.m.) – Haywood County opened an emergency shelter at the Armory at 235 Armory Drive in Clyde today at 3 p.m. Any residents seeking shelter can arrive at any time after opening. Residents are asked to bring any necessary medications, oxygen or other medical necessities.

If you want to bring a pet to the animal shelter, you must consider the following:

• All pets must be kept in cages
• All pets must have a collar or leash with appropriate tags
• Food and water bowls required
• Food and treats required
• Cleaning supplies required

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(2:30 p.m.) – Buncombe County officials are urging anyone along the French Broad or Swannanoa rivers in the Fletcher and Biltmore Village area to self-evacuate before the rivers reach their expected peaks overnight Friday into Saturday morning.

A news release from county officials said flooding is expected to rival and/or exceed flooding from the 1916 flood.

“If you are in an affected area, you should leave now,” said Emergency Services Director Taylor Jones. “It is possible that we may reach a point where our crews are no longer physically able to conduct rescue operations. We cannot emphasize how seriously you should take this.”

BUNCOMBE County leaders are urging residents to self-evacuate some areas along French Broad, Swannanoa

(12:30 p.m.) – The City of Hendersonville has issued a Level 3 Flood Protection Plan, meaning severe flooding is possible.

News 13 crew members saw rushing water along Greenville Highway near Publix Thursday morning. Police cordoned off the street on Chadwick Avenue.

Residents and businesses in and around the flood zone should review urgent preparedness information. City government offices will be closed at noon Thursday through Friday, September 27th.

Current road closures will be posted on the city’s website.

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(11 a.m.) – Governor Roy Cooper briefs the press on preparations for Helene.

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(10 a.m.) – Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder and Buncombe County EMS Director Taylor Jones provide an update on Hurricane Helene preparations, precautions and the current state of emergency.

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Flooding and power outages are reported around the mountains Wednesday evening and Thursday morning due to persistent rainfall and downpours.

Since Thursday morning NCDOT According to information, there are more than 30 weather-related road closures around the mountains. News 13 crews reported water backup on portions of Interstate 26 early Thursday morning.

Bystander video from Biltmore Village in Asheville showed cars driving through floodwaters, with one sedan nearly submerged.

BUNCOMBE, HAYWOOD AND OTHER BERGSCOUNTIES DECLARATE STATES OF EMERGENCY

A photo from Spruce Pine showed flooding at a cabin on Gem Mountain. A video showed water rushing under a nearby road.

Emergency crews in Rutherford County sent out an alert around 11:38 p.m. Wednesday warning that Lake Lure’s tainter gates were operating above 6 feet and warned residents below the dam in low-lying areas to Stay alert for rising water.

McDowell County Emergency Management ordered a mandatory evacuation of the River Breeze Campground in Marion due to flash flooding. An emergency shelter was open at Glenwood Baptist Church, 155 Glenwood Baptist Church Road.

INTERACTIVE RADAR

Many School districts And public officesover the mountainshave closedThursday due to the risk of flooding and wind. The state of emergency was declared locally and at the state level.

Heavy and widespread rainfall will continue on Thursday ahead of Helene’s arrival in the mountains. There will be heavy rain again on Thursday night and Friday morning.

NEWS 13 WEATHER

Helene will rapidly strengthen as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico toward landfall in the Florida Panhandle later Thursday. The current track brings the storm toward WNC, with potential impacts of wind and heavy rain continuing from Thursday night into Friday morning.

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POWER OUTAGES:

As of 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Duke Energy reports that thousands of customers are without power, including more than 1,174 in Henderson County, more than 780 in Buncombe County, 427 in McDowell and 925 in Macon.

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