Hurricane Helene was responsible for devastating flooding in western North Carolina, where it caused what is called a “rain predecessor event” – heavy rains before Helene’s actual impact on WNC exacerbated the flooding and landslide effects of the hurricane, causing many rivers in the area to crest very high and flood most of their surroundings. Western North Carolina is unfortunately very susceptible to this weather event, as most rural communities are built inside mountain valleys and around these rivers. Given the rarity of this type of event in the area, these communities and the water infrastructure were not built to cope with this influx of rainwater.

As a result of the flooding, many areas were impacted. Asheville, one of the largest cities in the area, was left without clean water for months, with the French Broad river cresting far over its banks. More secluded communities were impacted even further, with important connecting roads washed away and homes and businesses leveled. Some areas were completely inaccessible for weeks. Six months afterwards, the impacts of Helene are still being felt, with fallen branches and debris from the hurricane fueling wildfires in parts of Polk County.