On Tuesday, state leaders and federal lawmakers representing North Carolina took an aerial tour of the storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene last week in the western part of the state. 

Federal lawmakers included Republicans Sens. Ted Budd and Thom Tillis; Rep. David Rouzer, R-D7, Rep. Greg Murphy, R-D3; and, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

“The people of Western North Carolina are facing one of the worst disasters in our state’s history, and more needs to be done to help those in need,” said Budd in a press release. “My team and I are continuing to coordinate efforts with local, state, and federal authorities, including connecting people who are in need of rescue and resources. I want to again thank the National Guard, the Red Cross, state and local emergency personnel, charitable organizations, private sector partners, and countless others for their tireless work on behalf of our state. These heroes are saving lives every day.” 

Following the tour, Congressman Chuck Edwards, R-D11, joined them for an operational review of the recovery efforts. 

“From the helicopter, it was even clearer just how much devastation Hurricane Helene has wrought across Western North Carolina and the urgency of getting resources to folks, especially for those in more remote areas which are harder to reach.,” said Edwards in a statement on Monday. “We discussed the path forward and ways we can optimize congressional resources to support Western North Carolina’s recovery. Our district is facing a long road ahead, but Western North Carolinians are resilient, and I will continue to explore every avenue to bring home the support and resources that are needed in our mountains.”

Edwards criticized the federal response, describing it as “disappointing,” according to the Hill. President Biden announced that he plans to land in Raleigh on Wednesday and take an aerial tour of the Asheville damage. While Biden is in North Carolina, VP Kamala Harris will be in Georgia, also impacted by the storm.  

Last week, the forces of Hurricane Helene slammed hard into the western part of the state, resulting in immense flooding and mudslides, causing death and destruction at an unspeakable level. 

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, R-D5, is also working hard to assist with the relief efforts. 

“The situation in Western North Carolina is dire, and there is unfathomable devastation. We need an all-hands-on-deck response from the federal and state governments, ensuring every resource is utilized to save lives,” said Tillis in a press release. “My team and I continue to assist North Carolinians in need and work with federal, state, and local officials.”

The latest death toll stands at 165, with 73 in North Carolina and at least 57 of those dead in Buncombe County. Over 1100 people are in shelters, and over 57,000 have applied for FEMA assistance. While relief efforts have been coming from across the state, one of the most prominent organizations coordinating efforts and supplies is the Christian non-profit based out of Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan’s Purse.

“We have seen disasters in North Carolina, but this will probably go down as the worst disaster that we have ever seen in North Carolina,” Troxler told the Carolina Journal. “Fortunately, we have a strong emergency preparedness system in North Carolina that is working on response alongside the National Guard and volunteer organizations. It’s going to take a lot of resources to fix the damages that have happened. You are not in this alone. There’s a lot of people that are going to be working to help you.”

Photo Courtesy of Commissioner Steve Troxler’s Office.

State lawmakers are also getting involved, whether advocating at the state and federal levels or providing boots-on-the-ground assistance. Rep. Jake Johnson, R-Henderson, says communication is one of the biggest challenges in navigating this disaster.

Filling the void, Starlink devices have provided a means of communication, while cell services are still down in most affected areas. 

State Sen. Danny Britt, R-Hoke, recently praised the efforts of Donald Trump, former president and current Republican nominee for the presidential race, in helping direct helpful resources to the region. 

“This past weekend, Hurricane Helene slammed into our beautiful mountains with unprecedented force, bringing 1,000-year flooding and destruction on a scale never before seen in these districts,” said Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover. “Homes were submerged, businesses were devastated, and roads were washed out, leaving communities in disarray. The storm’s powerful winds and heavy rain impacted countless lives, creating dangerous conditions across multiple counties. Despite this devastation, I’ve been heartened by the way our communities have come together to support one another.”

In addition, governors of surrounding states, including Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, have dispatched aid to North Carolina. 

The University of North Carolina (UNC) Asheville, with a campus in one of the worst hit areas, put out a statement announcing classes will not resume until at least Oct. 28. 

The intensity of the rainfall from Helene, following heavy rains from a frontal system, was especially severe due to what meteorologists call the upslope effect.

“As weather moves in toward the mountains, the clouds have to rise up and over the mountains, and that’s the upslope effect,” said Doug Outlaw, a National Weather Service meteorologist in the agency’s office in Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina told NBC News. “It tends to squeeze out more rainfall, and unfortunately, it caused extreme flash flooding, which devastated communities. It was a huge amount of water at one time being channeled and funneled through the valleys.”

The concentrated rainfall equated to about half a year of rain in only four days. According to NBC News, 20 locations in the western part of the state, including Asheville, experienced flooding that is only anticipated to occur once every thousand years.