Hurricane Helene has left hundreds of residents stranded in North Carolina, highlighting the devastating consequences of extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. Initially making landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, Helene unleashed torrential rains and powerful winds that resulted in widespread flooding across the Southeast . In Western North Carolina, Buncombe County has declared a “catastrophic natural disaster,” with over 400 roads closed and significant communication disruptions complicating rescue efforts
The Biltmore Estate is assessing damage and will remain temporarily closed after devastating rain from Tropical Storm Helene caused catastrophic flooding in the Asheville area.
Biltmore is temporarily closed," read a statement Saturday on the social media account for the historic house and museum.
 25 are dead in South Carolina, including two firefighters in Saluda County, authorities said. In Georgia, at least 17 people have died, two of them killed by a tornado in Alamo, according to a spokesperson for Gov. Brian Kemp. In Florida, at least 11 people have died, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday, including several people who drowned in Pinellas County. Two people have died in Virginia, officials said Sunday, and four deaths have been reported in Tennessee.
Black Mountain, North Carolina, Sofia Grace Kunst contended with another problem: a landslide she said tore through the window and wall of a dining hall where she was playing Uno with six friends while on a weeklong trip.
It was exactly 9:10 a.m. Friday when mud and debris shattered a window and poured into the room, she said.
In McDowell County, Krista Cortright said her boyfriend’s grandmother had no way of getting out of Black Mountain due to flooding. Cortright told CNN the couple had to get to her since she had limited supplies and she is diabetic.
It typically takes the couple 25 minutes to travel from Marion to the grandmother’s house. On Sunday, due to road closures, it took them 2.5 hours.
As the death toll continues to rise—reportedly reaching at least 95—the urgency for effective disaster response grows increasingly critical. Rescue crews have mobilized to reach isolated areas but face challenges due to impassable roads and ongoing adverse weather conditions. Emergency services are overwhelmed as they work tirelessly to provide aid and restore essential infrastructure . The unfolding tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by communities in the wake of natural disasters.
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