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On Sunday, President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for North Carolina following devastating and historic rainfall and flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.
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Helene was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region on Thursday. According to the New York Times, its impact extended into Tennessee and caused 600 miles of destruction.
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One of the areas hit hardest was Asheville, a city in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Asheville is located in Buncombe County, and according to CBS News, officials reported on Monday that 35 people have died in the county as a result of Helene.
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According to an Associated Press report from Saturday, the city became isolated after the storm destroyed roads and caused major power outages.
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The AP also reported on Monday that supplies were being airlifted to isolated regions of western North Carolina.
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National Weather Service meteorologist Doug Outlaw told the Asheville Citizen Times on Sunday that western North Carolina saw record rainfall of 17.31 inches over the past three days.
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Helene’s impact set a new September rainfall record for the area in just three days, up from the previous 13.71 inches in 2004.
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Asheville is home to two notable rivers, the French Broad and the Swannanoa, both of which are reported to have flooded.
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The Citizen Times reported that, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Swannanoa River, which runs through Biltmore, “crested” at 26.1 feet on Friday. This is reportedly six feet above the previous record of 20.7 feet. Here’s what the Swannanoa River looked like on Sunday:
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Biltmore Village, an area of the city near the famed Biltmore Estate, was among the regions that experienced damage.
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On Monday, Biden spoke to reporters at the White House about Helene’s devastation, saying he planned to visit affected areas so long as he wouldn’t disrupt relief efforts.
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Biden did not specify the affected areas he may visit.
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“This is [a] historic storm. It’s devastating. They’ve never seen anything like this before,” he said, per Deadline.
Recovery resources for Asheville can be found here. If you’re interested in donating, the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund is accepting donations here.
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