Photos: Surrounded by water, small NC community had to wait until rescue could safely travel
By Robert Willett
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Hurricane Helene Aftermath
Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer about Hurricane Helene and the aftermath, particularly in Western North Carolina.
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Pensacola, North Carolina, a remote community in Pisgah National Forest, found itself surrounded by water during Helene.
With Cattail Creek running down the mountainside and the Cane River rising and overflowing, the town of about 500 people found itself salvaging what remained behind.
Rescue and recovery in the town, about 22 miles from Asheville, began when it was safe. There’s only one direct connection — Pensacola Road — so residents had to wait until trucks could make their way through.
Here are photos from the town on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
A Pensacola Fire Department truck, photographed on Thursday, October 3, 2024, truck fell victim to flood waters from Hurricane Helen that flooded the nearby Cane River. Firefighters stationed the truck at this end of the community, dividing their resources, to better serve the community in case the main fire station became inaccessible. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
A family in the Pensacola community of Yancey County, N.C. carry milk and food to their home after picking them up at the community fire department on Thursday, October 3, 2024. The area has been heavily damaged from Hurricane Helene, with the roads in inaccessible due to flooding. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Helicopter pilot Brett James, with Willow Creek Aviation of Louisburg, N.C. departs the Pensacola Fire Department after dropping off medical supplies, food and water, shuttling them from Hickory, N.C. to the Yancey County, N.C. village of Pensacola on Thursday, October 3, 2024. The area has been heavily damaged from Hurricane Helene, with the roads in inaccessible due to flooding. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Mark Harrison, Chief Medical Officer for the Pensacola Fire Department, center, unloads supplies from Helicopter pilot Brett James, with Willow Creek Aviation of Louisburg, N.C., on Thursday, October 3, 2024 in Pensacola, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Mark Harrison, Chief Medical Officer for the Pensacola Fire Department, center, unloads supplies from Helicopter pilot Brett James, with Willow Creek Aviation of Louisburg, N.C., on Thursday, October 3, 2024 in Pensacola, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
National Guard Troops from Southern Pines, N.C. deliver water to the hard hit village of Pensacola, N.C. in Yancey County on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Henri McGowan, who lives in the village of Pensacola, in Yancey County, N.C. holds his daughter Violet McGowan as he calls loved ones using the Starlink Internet service at the community fire department on Thursday, October 3, 2024 in Pensacola, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Seven-year-old Amersyn Rutledge of Greenville TN, sorts donated supplies at the Pensacola Fire Department on Thursday, October 3, 2024 in Pensacola, N.C. Amersyn came with her father to volunteer on Thursday as the hard hit community, cut off by damaged roads from Hurricane Helene copes with limited resources and medical supplies. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Inside the Pensacola Fire Department on Thursday, October 3, 2024, volunteers sort donations to the community that was hard hit by Hurricane Helene The storm destroyed roads, cutting off access to the Yancey County, N.C. community. Most supplies have been flown in by helicopter or driven in on four wheel drive vehicles. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Fallen Utility lines in the Yancey County village of Pensacola, N.C. on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Hurricane Helene destroyed roads and knocked out power to the community. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
A sign in the window of the Pensacola Fire Department offers residents a place to spend the day, have some food and use Starlink to call family and friends on Thursday, October 3, 2024 in Pensacola, N.C. The area has been heavily damaged from Hurricane Helene, with the roads inaccessible due to flood damage. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Joyce Maness shovels mud, laced with sewage, from her front porch in the Pensacola community of Yancey County, N.C. on Thursday, October 3, 2024 in Pensacola, N.C. Food waters from Hurricane Helene pushed the mud and sewage into her home. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Members of the Charlotte Fire Department arrive in Pensacola, N.C. to search for victims of Hurricane Helene on Thursday, October 3, 2024, in the Yancey County. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
The Laurel Branch Baptist Church, on Thursday, October 3, 2024, in the Yancey County community of Pensacola, N.C. suffered heavy damage after Cane Creek and Cattail Creek flooded the community during Hurricane Helene. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
Clothes dry in the sunshine against a backdrop of storm debris from Hurricane Helene in the Yancey County village of Pensacola, N.C. on Thursday, October 3, 2024 Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published October 4, 2024 at 1:54 PM.
Follow More of Our Reporting on Helene in North Carolina
Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer about Hurricane Helene and the aftermath, particularly in Western North Carolina.
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