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Hundreds of thousands of people in western North Carolina are still without power and basic needs for survival. Some areas are underwater, leaving hundreds of roads closed and residents trapped.

30 dead from Helene in Buncombe County as power restoration and rescue operations take place across western NC

EXPECT AS YOU HEAD OUT THIS MORNING. >> THIS MORNING WE'RE SEEING IMAGES OF THE CATASTROPHIC LEANS PATH LEFT BEHIND IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. OFFICIALS ARE COMPARING IT TO THE DISASTER. HURRICANE KATRINA LEFT BEHIND. WELL, THIS MORNING, THOUSANDS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA ARE WITHOUT POWER, CELL SERVICE AND DRINKING WATER STATEWIDE. MORE THAN 450,000 CUSTOMERS ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER RIGHT NOW. AND AT LEAST 30 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN COUNTY BECAUSE OF FLOODING FROM HELENE AS WELL AS 2 SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES TODAY, GOVERNOR ROY COOPER WILL JOIN OTHER STATE AND FEMA LEADERS IN ASHEVILLE TO LOOK AT THE STORM DAMAGE WRAL'S BRETT KNESE JOINS US LIVE FROM BILTMORE VILLAGE. A NATIONAL THIS MORNING AND BRETT WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER ON FRIDAY HOW THE WATER WAS UP TO WINDOWS. AND WE'RE WATCHING LIKE THINGS JUST FLOATING DOWN AND ALL THAT WATER. BRETT? >> YEAH. AND THAT SOME OF THE IMAGES COMING OUT OF HERE ARE JUST STRIKING. THEY'RE UNBELIEVABLE AS CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO ALL OF THIS REGION. NOT JUST PARTS OF DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE, BUT ALL OF THIS REGION, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE ROADBLOCKS HERE BEHIND ME THAT IS SET UP ALL OVER THE DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE AREA IS IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET INTO A LOT OF THESE PLACES AT THIS POINT. AND SOME OF THESE IMAGES ARE HARD TO LOOK AT THE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS PEOPLE USING BUCKETS OF WATER JUST TO RECLAIM SOME OF THE FLOOD WATER. THEN THEY TAKE THAT HOME JUST TO THEY CAN FLUSH THEIR TOILETS. THAT'S HOW DIRE THE SITUATION IS WITH A LACK OF RUNNING WATER. THERE'S MUD AND DEBRIS EVERYWHERE. RESIDENTS TELLING US IT'S REALLY HARD TO OVERSTATE HOW BAD THE SITUATION IS. CELL SERVICE CONTINUES TO BE LIMITED, EVEN WITH EMERGENCY TOWER SET UP IN THE AREA. SO MUCH OF THE DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE AREA, INCLUDING THE RIVER ARTS DISTRICT, HAVE ESSENTIALLY BEEN WIPED OUT. MARIAH FLAHERTY AND OTHERS FRUSTRATED BY THE LACK OF BASIC SERVICES AND HELP FROM A STATE LEADERS. >> BUT IT COMING TO HELP. THERE'S NO RESOURCES. THERE'S NO GAS TO MAKE IT. A STORES IS NO STORES OPEN. IT'S CASH ONLY THE ATM'S ARE DOWN. BUT THOSE LITTLE BABIES THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DRINK AND WE'RE GOING ON 3, 4 DAYS NOW WITH NO WATER. >> YOU CAN HEAR THE FRUSTRATION IN HER VOICE. OTHER RESIDENTS TELLING US HOW DIRE THE SITUATION WILL BECOME. HAS THIS CONTINUES TO PLAY OUT DAYS ON END. SOME RESIDENTS SAYING THAT THEIR HEART MONITORS AND OTHER SORTS OF SUPPLIES THAT THEY HAVE FOR THEIR HEALTH NEEDS WILL RUN OUT OF POWER. IF THINGS DON'T CHANGE SOON. RENEE, IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE. SOME OF THE STORIES THAT WE'RE HEARING OUT HERE. >> WELL, BRIGHT, CRITICAL SUPPLIES ARE SLOWLY GETTING TO THE WESTERN PART OF OUR STATE. BUT TRAVEL IS STILL A HUGE ISSUE. WE HAVE MORE THAN 290 ROAD STILL CLOSED ACROSS THE STATE. WHAT WAS TRAVEL LIKE FOR YOU TO GET TO ASHEVILLE? >> YEAH, WE HAD TO TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE THAN MOST PEOPLE TAKE. I-40 JUST TO GET TO ASHEVILLE. THAT IS A COMMON ROUTE FOR PEOPLE. I-40 STILL WIPED OUT AS WILL BE CLOSED FOR A LONG TIME. WE TOOK I-26 TO GET UP HERE. BUT THERE ARE OTHER SIDE ROADS WHERE THERE SAYS TREES DOWN EVERYWHERE AND IT'S CREWS HAVE JUST CUT A NARROW PATH JUST WIDE ENOUGH FOR CARS TO GET THROUGH JUST ONE CAR TO GET THROUGH ON SOME OF THE SIDE ROADS. IT REALLY IS UNBELIEVABLE TO SEE OUT HERE WRAL NEWS. ALL RIGHT, BRAD, THANK YOU. GLAD TO GET THERE SAFELY. AND FOLKS ARE STEPPING UP TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY HELENE TODAY. WAKE COUNTY CHURCHES WILL DELIVER DRINKING WATER TO PEOPLE WHO NEEDED IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. >> WRAL'S LAURA LEVINE JOINS US LIVE FROM APEX BAPTIST CHURCH IN MEMBERS. THERE HAVE STARTED ARRIVING, GETTING READY TO DRIVE THOSE SUPPLIES WEST. >> JEFF, GOOD MORNING. WE ARE NOW HERE INSIDE A APEX BAPTIST CHURCH. YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY PUT THE CALL OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY DELIVER. CHECK IT OUT. YOU CAN SEE HUNDREDS OF CASES OF WATER FILLING UP THIS ROOM HERE INSIDE THE CHURCH. AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, VOLUNTEERS JUST NOW ARRIVING MOMENTS AGO. THEY'RE PREPARING TO SEND 3 TRAILERS OUT WEST TODAY. AND LATER THIS WEEK, THEY'RE GOING TO DELIVER THE REST OF THE SUPPLIES. WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT CASES OF WATER, BUT SO MANY OTHER ESSENTIAL NEEDS. BUT WE KNOW WATER IS A DIRE NEED, ESPECIALLY IN COUNTY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE TRIANGLE AND BEYOND ARE STEPPING UP TO SUPPORT. YOU'RE LOOKING AT PHOTOS NOW FROM SUMMIT CHURCH CAPITOL HILL'S WHO ALSO COLLECTED CASES OF WATER FROM ITS CONGREGATION YESTERDAY IN A BRIEFING SUNDAY, OFFICIALS SAID HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF COUNTY RESIDENTS MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO WATER FOR WEEKS. THE COUNTY MANAGER SAID THAT TRUCKS OF FOOD AND WATER ARE ON THEIR WAY BUT HAVE BEEN STUCK IN TRANSIT. THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WITH THE STATE SAYS SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGED. THE WATER PLANTS HAS CAUSED MAJOR HOLDUPS. >> OF THE SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY TRACKING. 52 OF THEM ARE WITHOUT POWER. WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 93 SYSTEMS THAT ARE ON A BOIL WATER ADVISORY AND OF THOSE. 33 ARE AWAITING TEST RESULTS TO CLEAR THAT ADVISORY. >> YEAH. SO IN JUST A BIT, WE'RE GOING TO DO AN INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS ROAD OUTSIDE, LOADING UP ONE OF THE TRUCKS RIGHT NOW PREPARING TO HEAD OUT THE HOPE TO LEAVE IN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES OR SO. BUT LOOK, IF YOU'RE AT HOME TRYING TO FIND WAYS THAT YOU CAN SUPPORT AND HELP THE PEOPLE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, WE DO HAVE A QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT THERE. THAT'LL TAKE YOU TO A LINK ON OUR WEBSITE WITH MORE INFORMATION. WE'RE LIVING WRAL, NEWS LIVE

No power, no cell service, no water: Western NC struggling to navigate catastrophic impacts of Helene

Drone footage of flooding in Asheville

Two western NC deputies killed by flooding from Tropical Storm Helene  

Finding help after Helene

List: NC residents marked safe following Helene

Parent and child holding hands with hearts

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Helene making molehills out of mountains

DRAUGHON DRAWS: 'Helene' makes molehills out of mountains

Rain moves into Triangle for morning commute, more showers in store Monday afternoon

Flood risk Monday

'This is a disaster': Western North Carolina reels from Helene

What We Know About Hurricane Heleneâs Destruction So Far

Supplies rushed to communities isolated by Helene as death toll rises to nearly 100

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Hurricane Helene killed and destroyed far and wide â from Tampa to Atlanta to Asheville, North Carolina, its high winds, heavy rains and sheer size created a perfect mix for devastation.

How Helene became the near-perfect storm to bring widespread destruction across the South

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LOS ANGELES (AP) â Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor, has died.

Kris Kristofferson, singer-songwriter and actor, dies at 88

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Western North Carolina was crippled by historic flooding and life-threatening conditions from the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene. Many organizations are working to support those in need during this difficult time.

How to help: Western NC residents devastated by Helene

Volunteers packing groceries at community food bank.

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RDU 'equipment malfunction' causes parking delays, problems with terminal tech

RDU Airport congestion

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) â The two astronauts stuck at the International Space Station since June welcomed their new ride home with Sundayâs arrival of a SpaceX capsule.

Stuck NASA astronauts welcome SpaceX capsule that'll bring them home next year

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Helene moved through North Carolina on Friday as a tropical storm, with several mountain towns suffering the worst of the impacts in the state.

Appalachian State classes canceled for several days due to Helene flooding, damage

App State flooding

Joe Burrow knew coming into the game that this was as close to a must-win as you can have early in the NFL season.

And the fifth-year quarterback played like it.

Burrow out duels Dalton in shootout, Bengals beat Panthers 34-24 

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A look at downed trees and other damage as Tropical Storm Helene moved through the state on Sept. 27, 2024. 

SLIDESHOW: Helene brings downed trees, flooding to NC & the southeast

Flooding aftermath in Asheville

Two young children were hospitalized after emergency responders were called to the home for a cardiac arrest and fire, which was later upgraded to a code blue, according to the Raleigh Fire Department.

1-year-old and 4-year-old hospitalized after fire at Raleigh apartment, authorities say

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FEMA can help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

How to apply for FEMA assistance after Helene

In the wake Tropical Storm Helene's devastation across the state of North Carolina, many people are still trying to get in touch with loved ones. This is a list of people who have reported being safe from the storm. 

Some schools are planning supply drives, others are raising money for organizations who are directly involved in relief efforts.

How high schools are helping those affected by flooding in western NC

Flooding in Asheville from Hurricane Helene

NC 211 is a free and confidential information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina. It connects individuals and families with health and human services and resources in their community

Calling NC 211 after Helene passes: Lifeline helps with disaster response, resources

Asheville flooding

The North Carolina Department of Insurance gives advice on how to avoid potential fraud and to handle insurance after a storm strikes.

Handling insurance after the storm

Hurricane Irene Damage

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A family is displaced after a fire on Dickens Drive in Raleigh.

Family displaced after fire on Dickens Drive in Raleigh 

Family displaced after fire on Dickens Dr in Raleigh 

Communities trapped following Helene's aftermath

Western North Carolina devastation viewed from above

State and county agencies working to bring relief to communities cut off by flood damage

Helene destroys part of US 64 in Henderson County 

Drone: I-40 shoulder washed away by torrential rain

Interstate 40 washed away

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'Total devastation': Coaches in western NC say damage from Helene is catastrophic

Local News

A heartfelt project: Waltonwood Lake Boone seniors handmake over 60 'KINDness Dolls' for WakeMed Children's Hospital

High-speed chase ends with arrest of suspect in stolen vehicle case

23-year-old airman dies in motorcycle crash on US 70 near Smithfield

Biden says he hopes to visit Helene-impacted areas this week if it doesn't impact emergency response

Nation/World

'Megalopolis' flops, 'The Wild Robot' soars at box office

Pope Francis suggests Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon are disproportionate and immoral

Death toll rises from Helene while supplies are rushed to North Carolina and Florida digs out

SpaceX launches rescue mission for 2 NASA astronauts who are stuck in space until next year

The IBMA Bluegrass Live! festival in downtown will wrap up its final year year in Raleigh without one of its headlining acts. 


 IBMA Bluegrass Live! takes final bow without planned headliner

2015 WOB Festival

Pullen Park Holiday Express announces 2024 dates, when tickets go on sale

Holiday Express

Foodie News: Decorated restaurateur celebrates grand opening of new venture

Open sign broad hanging on wood door front of cafe.

Best North Carolina fall festivals

Puppy playing amongst the pumpkins at fall festival

Billy Joel and Sting announce NC concert

Billy Joel played PNC Arena in Raleigh on Feb. 9, 2014.

Weekend best bets: Bluegrass, International festivals

Bluegrass returns to Raleigh

Out & About

Fact check: Is rape up 53% in NC since Josh Stein became Attorney General?

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Democrats, LGBTQ+ groups criticize Michele Morrow post

NC education candidate Michele Morrow falsely says the 'plus' in 'LGBTQ+' includes support for pedophilia

From eating dogs to Taylor Swift: Fact-checking Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's first 2024 presidential debate

Preview Trump and Harris' talking points ahead of the presidential debate

Fierce North Carolina congressional race could hinge on other names on the ballot

NC Capitol

NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson treated for burns after incident at campaign event

UNC students can't use digital IDs to vote on Election Day, NC Court of Appeals says

Mark Robinson hires new top staff, touts wife's continued support as he presses ahead with campaign

Robinson supporters slipped away shortly after CNN porn site report, Meredith Poll indicates

Wake County school leaders urge NC lawmakers to uphold HB10 veto for school vouchers

Education

Wake school leaders take a stance against private school voucher expansion bill

Wake County school leaders share concerns with plan to expand school vouchers in NC

Wake schools list $200M in HVAC needs, as school board weighs how to fix them

NC State warns community about recent string of vehicle break-ins at residence hall, Greek Village, StateView Hotel

'He died from vaping:' The rise of vaping among teens in NC

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Place your bets: The top 5 sports Americans wager money on

Wife of Hamas hostage from North Carolina fights for his freedom

If Mark Robinson drops out of race for NC governor, his name will remain on ballots

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Lea: This wasn't your typical Panthers loss, chins are up in the locker room

WRALSportsFan

Kerolin scores as Courage down Red Stars 3-1

Americans get biggest road win and capture the Presidents Cup for the 10th straight time

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Duke rallies from 20 points down, beats rival North Carolina 21-20

Stevens: Could Hurricane Helene cause the fall sports season to be extended?

HighSchoolOT

Great 58: See NC's first batch of statewide standouts across six fall sports

Pisgah athletic fields flooded again just one year after football stadium reopened

HighSchoolOT's latest regional Top 15 rankings for boys soccer

Latest football schedule changes & postponements following Hurricane Helene

With a rise of teens vaping in the state, advocates have called on lawmakers to address what they call a "loophole" in state law that is allowing young people to get easier access to tobacco products.


NC's vaping registry bill: What's the loophole that advocates are concerned about and why Big Tobacco stands to benefit

Gen V: Teen Vaping in North Carolina

Hurricane Helene has raised concerns about the increasing frequency of severe weather across the U.S., with more than 1,495 tornadoes recorded this year, making it the second-most active year on record.

Tornado activity is increasing and moving east, scientists say

Hurricane Helene has raised concerns about the increasing frequency of severe weather across the U.S., with more than 1,495 tornadoes recorded this year, making it the second most active year on record.

Climate change is expanding tornado activity, scientists say

A tornado ravaged Springfield Middle School in Lucama on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024. The next day, Drone 5 flew over the school to survey the damage.

WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty goes through a Donald Trump social media post where the former president said, "I saved Flavored Vaping in 2019 and it greatly helped people get off smoking. I raised the age to 21, keeping it away from the kids. Kamala and Joe want everything banned, killing small businesses all over the Country. I'll save vaping again."

NC vs. federal tobacco laws

Get a sneak peek at the new WRAL documentary, "Gen V: Teen Vaping in North Carolina," and explore the age limit to buy tobacco products. 

In Depth with Dan: Teens, vaping and age limit to buy tobacco products.

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Robinson, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, is facing pressure from people in his own party to take more action to substantiate denials about allegations that he made lewd and racist on a pornographic website. 


Robinson offers 'complete cooperation and full transparency' in probe of porn-comments report 

Mark Robinson Speaking in News Conference 

WRAL Specialists

Protecting consumers from dangerous products sold by Amazon

Consumer Reports tests if dressers comply with STURDY Act

New research shows how well new dresser tip over rules are working

Northern Wake Senior Center works to curb fall frequency 

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Man killed outside barbershop Saturday in Clinton

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PCBs at NC State: Dorms, library, classroom buildings test positive

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Triangle Tech X 2024: Top leaders gather to tackle STEM talent gap

Siemens unit investing $36 million, adding 200 jobs in Wendell

Steve Rao: AIâs impact on jobs is the missing issue in election-year debate

David Gardner: No profit, no problem: Why SaaS companies sell for millions without profitability

WRAL TechWire

California governor vetoes bill requiring speeding alerts in new cars

A tiny tribe is getting pushback for betting big on a $600M casino in California's wine country

Missing a beat, streaming service Spotify is back after a temporary outage

Latest talks between Boeing and its striking machinists break off without progress, union says

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