Hurricane Helene Aftermath

Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. The News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer have a collection of stories about Hurricane Helene and the damage it left, particularly in Western North Carolina.

In the Western North Carolina town of Canton, Mayor Zeb Smathers has never seen anything like it.

“It is truly the worst storm we have faced, and not just us, but our friends across the mountains,” Smathers said. “The word I keep coming back to ... is apocalyptic.”

Across North Carolina, many residents are voicing similar sentiments about the devastation left by Tropical Storm Helene, a disaster that has left thousands without power, safe roads, cellphone service or potable water.