North Carolina Communities ‘Wiped Off the Map’ by Helene, Governor Says

More than 1.5 million U.S. customers are still without power after Hurricane Helene, according to a tracking website.

Debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, N.C., on Sept. 30, 2024. Mike Stewart/AP Photo

The governor of North Carolina said that “hundreds of roads” were destroyed and that entire communities were “wiped off the map” because of storm Helene last week and over the weekend.

“Consider the roads closed in western North Carolina,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper told CNN on Sept. 30. “We do not need sightseers coming in to observe the damage. We ask you not to come in unless you are on a specific mission to help with rescue.”