Mudslides from Helene leave devastation in Watauga County

VILAS, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — Just outside of Boone, there are mudslides and washed-out roads in the town of Vilas off Highway 421 in Watauga County.

A nearby creek turned into a raging river during the storm, picking up trees and snapping them into pieces. A business owner says the force of the water picked up some of his big equipment and floated it, shifting it a couple hundred yards away.

In a pile of debris, a shipping container is about the only thing that stands out.

“Snow plows scattered; it was not what you want to see when you pull into your shop,” said Zach Thompson.

The gushing water from the storm carried the container at least a football field away from Thompson’s landscaping company, Mountaineer Maintenance.

His company property is littered with his equipment swept up by the floodwaters.

“It was a little hard to recognize,” said Thompson, referring to his business.

Hurricane Helene wrecked the community of Vilas in Watauga County.

From the air, we saw several mudslides.

The rain washed away a couple of sheds on a property, sliding them down the mountain.

We saw two different roads washed out and what appears to be a driveway that was wiped out in another area.

Thompson got choked up talking about the destruction of the beautiful mountain town, where he was raised.

“We got mud, we lost gravel, other people lost their houses,” said an emotional Thompson.

People have come to help them.

“We’ll make do, we’ll get cleaned up, we’ve got customers that need us,” said Thompson.

And soon the company wants to return the kindness.

“Hopefully in a day or two we’ll be in a position where we can help some people out,” said Thompson.

Thompson grew up in Watauga County, and the only thing he says that even comes close to comparison is Hurricane Hugo, but he says the damage from Helene is much more widespread.

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