The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has just released its final report on Hurricane Helene, detailing the storm’s historic impact, particularly on the Carolinas.
The report highlights record-breaking rainfall, historic flooding levels, and widespread destruction and death all along its path.
Helene’s Path and North Carolina Landfall
The report notes that the storm first developed from a Central American Gyre, intensified into a Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds before making landfall in Florida on September 26, 2024. The storm then moved northeast, bringing heavy rain, flooding, and tornadoes to North Carolina.
Historic Rainfall and Deadly Flooding
Helene dropped more than 30 inches of rain in some parts of North Carolina, causing record river flooding and landslides (worsened by already saturated ground).
According to the report, “Rainfall associated with Helene and its predecessor rain event resulted in catastrophic flooding impacts across western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, particularly in the mountainous regions, where landslides and debris flows destroyed numerous homes, roads, bridges, electrical infrastructure and water treatment plants. Helene is the most devastating natural disaster in western North Carolina’s history. In addition to the 85 direct and 20 indirect fatalities in North Carolina, at least 21 injuries were reported in the state, and the Coast Guard rescued at least 865 people in western North Carolina…the storm damaged or destroyed more than 125,000 housing units across western North Carolina. The North Carolina Forest Service estimated 822,000 acres of damaged timberland…In extreme examples, trees on entire mountainsides were blown down in the higher elevations of North Carolina.”
The French Broad River and Catawba River surged beyond historic levels, causing especially devastating flooding all around Asheville, Hickory, and Morganton.
After rainfall saturated the ground in the days leading up to Hurricane Helene, an unimaginable number of landslides were triggered throughout the NC mountains.
Power Outages and Wind Damage
Helene’s winds, gusting over 80 mph, downed thousands of trees and power lines, leaving just over 1 million North Carolinians without electricity and over 1.2 million South Carolinians without power.
Economic Impact
The NHC estimates North Carolina’s total damage at over $79 billion, with homes, businesses, roads, and public infrastructure among the hardest hit.
The NHC report emphasizes the importance of hurricane preparedness, noting that early evacuation orders helped prevent an even higher death toll.
As North Carolina rebuilds, officials stress the need for stronger flood control measures and resilient infrastructure to withstand future storms.
For full details, you can read the entire NHC report here.
