The Myth of Climate Resilience: Hurricane Helene's Devastating Blow to North Carolina

Swannanoa residents walk through devastating flood damage from the Swannanoa River in western North Carolina on Sunday.Photo byTravis Long / The News & Observer / TNS via Getty Images

For years, cities in North Carolina have been listed among the most climate-resilient places in the country. Their high scores on national lists, featured in numerous articles, were a testament to their resilience. Thanks to its FEMA risk scores, Tree Equity Scores, natural geography of elevation and mountains, proactive public measures, and infrastructure, North Carolina seemed like a beacon of hope for those concerned about extreme climate events.

But then this week, Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented devastation to western North Carolina in a near 'worst-case scenario.' The extent of the destruction and the toll on human life are still not fully measured. Still, all reports have shown that the hurricane devastated the state in a previously unimaginable way.

Flooding in downtown Marshall during the weekend after Helene.Photo byOld Marshall Jail Hotel

In Asheville, Emergency Services Assistant Director Ryan Cole told the Citizen-Times that "catastrophic devastation" didn't accurately describe the situation;

"It would go a little bit further and say we have biblical devastation through the county," Cole said. "We've had biblical flooding here, and it has been extremely significant."

So what happened? As Hurricane Helene became a Category 1 in the Gulf of Mexico, from where it would eventually make landfall in Florida, western North Carolina was already being doused in rainfall. The Tropical moisture being fed was forming along a stalled cold front. By late Thursday night, after Helene made landfall, North Carolina already saw more than 4 inches of rain. The downpour continued, and floodwaters became so bad that some people were even trapped on a hospital roof, where 9 inches of rain had fallen.

Flooding caused by the storm that started as Hurricane Helene covered streets in Asheville, N.C.Photo byBilly Bowling/EPA via Shutterstock

As flood waters began to inundate cities, 300 miles of tropical storm force winds from Helene pushed additional moisture up the mountains. Some areas along the North Carolina mountains reported a foot of more than rain, with the highest rainfall occurring in Busick, with a total of 31.22 inches or 2.5 feet; it is the largest amount of rainfall seen in the state, with nearly three months worth of precipitation in less than three days. Across several counties, extreme flooding, landslides, and mudslides occurred. The compounding winds made the situation even more dire; they surpassed hurricane speeds and contributed to widespread power outages. A rare mountain tornado formed in Watauga County, the first it had seen since 1998. The day after Helene landed, at least six tornadoes were confirmed, including an EF3 in Rocky Mount that destroyed several buildings.

A search and rescue team examines a van swept into the river in Swannanoa by flooding from Helene in North Carolina. September 29, 2024.Photo byTravis Long/The News & Observer via Reuters

Rescue efforts are currently underway to reach the victims of the devastating storm. The confirmed death toll across the South has climbed to at least 130 individuals as of Tuesday, marking it as one of the deadliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. this century. Many individuals are still reported missing, with horrifying stories flooding social media and news sources of family members being swept away by the floodwaters, including a 7-year-old with his grandparents. Asheville, N.C., Mayor Esther Manheimer said on CNN late Monday that 600 people remain unaccounted for and that reaching them is the priority.

"Sadly, our state's long-running benchmark for deaths during a tropical event - approximately 80 during the mountain region's July 1916 flood - could be in jeopardy from this storm that has already broken plenty of other records," the climate office said, adding that the 1916 event was the area's flood of record for more than a century — a title that "now belongs to Helene instead."

The scene at a food distribution center at the town hall in Old Fort, North Carolina, on Sept. 30.Photo byMelissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images

According to Major General Todd Hunt, the North Carolina National Guard has rescued more than 119 people - including one infant. He said the largest rescue was of 41 people north of Asheville. Many petrol stations are closed throughout North Carolina, and there are long car queues at those still open. Meanwhile, the few open supermarkets have been crowded by customers attempting to buy bottled water, and with ATMs not working, these purchases are cash-only for those lucky enough to have cash on hand. Government officials and aid groups worked to deliver supplies by air, truck, and even mule to the hard-hit tourism hub of Asheville and its surrounding mountain towns.

People wait in line for gasoline in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Sept. 29, 2024, in Fletcher, N.C.Photo bySean Rayford/Getty Images

Many people were surprised by the immense destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. The rapid intensification of the hurricane over the Gulf, the moisture in the surrounding environment, and the historical rainfall amounts, combined with the warmer atmosphere, created a cataclysmic event.

Janice Whitley wipes her face while working to find valuables from her 93-year-old mother's bedroom in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.Photo byMelissa Sue Gerrits, Getty Images

The current rescue and emergency efforts have not been adequate in North Carolina, and millions are at risk of continual power outages and being stranded due to the storms. This is a tragedy and a national disaster, showing how we are just not ready for storms of this magnitude. Over the following decades, we will likely see intensified weather patterns and storms that will continue to damage our communities. Unfortunately, the poorest communities will be the most affected, lacking the resources to deal with them or cope. And while some might consider simply moving to more ‘climate resilient’ cities and towns, it isn’t a solution or an answer for our country.