Tropical Storm Helene, which later spawned tornadoes, brought catastrophic flooding and ecological devastation to western North Carolina. Asheville and nearby regions faced historic rainfall, leading to major landslides, washed-out roads, and contamination of local water supplies. The Swannanoa River overflowed, inundating homes and businesses with floodwaters and introducing chemicals, debris, and sewage into the environment. Local hospitals, such as Mission Hospital in Asheville, struggled to maintain operations without water and power as residents coped with limited access to food and healthcare in the disaster’s aftermath.
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