Mountains Underwater: Hurricane Helene’s Toll on Appalachia
- Bryan Hummel
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 22
A Deluge in the Blue Ridge
In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene roared inland after striking Florida, and the Appalachians bore the brunt of its inland rains. Western North Carolina was among the hardest hit. Asheville’s French Broad and Swannanoa rivers surged beyond their historic records, while Mount Mitchell logged more than two feet of rainfall in just a few days. Communities across Buncombe County and beyond faced devastation on a scale not seen in living memory (NOAA).
The toll was staggering. More than 100 lives were lost in North Carolina alone, with the overall U.S. death toll climbing toward 250. Damages exceeded $59 billion, the costliest disaster in state history. Roads, bridges, and power lines collapsed. Entire towns were cut off, forcing rescues by boat, helicopter, and even mule teams when nothing else could reach the most remote valleys.
The Mountains Made It Worse, and They Hold the Key
The Appalachian terrain played a defining role in the disaster. Steep slopes, fractured soils, and narrow valleys funneled rain downhill with devastating speed. Wildfire scars in some areas only magnified the runoff, leaving water with nowhere to go but straight into rivers and communities. More than 2,000 landslides were recorded, many of them swallowing homes or highways.
Yet the very geography that magnified Helene’s fury also holds the blueprint for resilience.
Mountain headwaters: Small check dams, stone structures, and deep-rooted vegetation could slow water before it accelerates down the slopes.
Valley tributaries: Restoring meanders and reconnecting floodplains could absorb surges, spreading the energy out rather than sending it barreling toward towns.
Urban flood corridors in Asheville and Black Mountain: Wetlands and seasonal basins within the valley floor could store excess water temporarily, reducing strain on bridges and treatment plants.
Landslide-prone hillsides: Strategic planting of native trees and stabilizing vegetation could reduce the risk of soil collapse during prolonged rains.
These are not silver bullets, but layered together, they represent a landscape that is able to slow, spread, sink, soak, and store stormwater, turning what is now disaster into something more manageable.
Building Forward in the Wake of Helene
Recovery efforts across western North Carolina show glimpses of this future. Asheville has already begun exploring expanded green infrastructure and urban forestry to buffer future storms. Conservation groups are working to stabilize hillsides along the Blue Ridge Parkway and restore riparian corridors. Even in remote hollows, where supply lines collapsed, communities are asking how to design the land itself to carry some of the burden when the next storm comes.
The lesson from Helene is stark but clear: infrastructure alone cannot carry the weight of these disasters. In Appalachia, the land must become part of the defense. If shaped wisely, mountains that once funneled floods could help hold them back.
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