The Devastating Impact of Hurricane Helene on Southeast Communities—and How Travelers Can Make a Difference

As of Wednesday, communities across the Southeast were still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which tore through Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and southern Virginia. The death toll has already reached 180 as search and recovery operations continue, marking Helene as one of the deadliest storms in the U.S. in the past 50 years.

Chef William Dissen of Asheville's the Market Place shared an emotional message on Instagram, describing the devastation: 'This is the worst flood of our lifetimes. Our region has been completely wiped out. We are without water, power, or cell service. Roads to Asheville are closed or washed away, and communication is scarce. Please send prayers—we will need your help to rebuild.' His video showed the catastrophic flooding.

As Hurricane Helene approached Florida's Gulf Coast last Thursday, I took shelter with my kids and nieces at my sister’s house in South Tampa, as my own neighborhood was under mandatory evacuation. We played games, cooked, and even swam in the pool before the winds intensified and forced us indoors. Despite minimal rain, the storm surge from Helene sent Tampa Bay’s waters flooding onto the peninsula where we live.

No one could have predicted the devastation that followed as Helene made its way north from Florida that night, cutting a destructive path through several states. The hardest-hit area appears to be Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina, which suffered catastrophic damage.

It’s still too early to fully understand the long-term consequences of the storm's devastating impact on communities and economies. However, as new details surface daily, here’s what you need to know about the areas caught in Hurricane Helene’s relentless path.

Which areas and cities bore the brunt of Hurricane Helene’s fury?

Hurricane Helene made its way up the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida’s Gulf Coast before making landfall near Perry, Florida, on Thursday evening, September 26, as a Category 4 storm. At its peak, winds reached 140 mph, marking it as one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Big Bend region of Florida, the area where the Gulf Coast curves from the peninsula into the panhandle.

The hurricane brought catastrophic storm surges to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater Beach, and Old Port Tampa. These areas saw their highest recorded surges during the storm, according to the Washington Post.

After making landfall, Helene moved inland, crossing into Georgia to the east of Atlanta as a Category 2 hurricane. It weakened into a tropical storm before heading toward South Carolina and sweeping across western North Carolina and Tennessee, dropping record rainfall, threatening dam breaches, and causing widespread river flooding along its path.

Here’s a breakdown of how each state was impacted:

Florida: As Hurricane Helene moved north toward its landfall in Taylor County along Florida’s Big Bend, it brought a record-breaking storm surge and fierce winds that affected Gulf Coast communities, including some of the state’s most densely populated regions, according to the Associated Press.

In Tampa and St. Petersburg, there was widespread flooding, property damage, and reported fatalities. Beaches were washed into nearby streets. Further south, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island, still recovering from Hurricane Ian, faced additional surge effects, as reported by the Fort Myers News-Press. Over 8.5 million gallons of sewage were discharged into Tampa Bay as the storm overwhelmed sewage systems, according to the Tampa Bay Times. In Pinellas County, some popular barrier islands, like St. Pete Beach, Treasure Beach, and Clearwater Beach, were set to reopen on Tuesday afternoon, but more than 23,000 residential properties sustained damage.

Further north, smaller tourist towns like Cedar Key experienced power and water outages for two days after the storm. Other affected areas included Tarpon Springs and Steinhatchee, located about 90 miles southeast of Tallahassee, where damage was minimal, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Overall, 11 deaths were reported in Florida from the storm, as per CNN.

Georgia: Georgia has reported 25 deaths due to Hurricane Helene. The storm caused extensive damage, particularly from wind and rain, in southern Georgia and the state’s mountainous northeastern region, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Valdosta, Augusta, and Rabun counties suffered heavy damage, while Atlanta largely escaped the worst of it.

South Carolina: South Carolina experienced heavy rainfall and widespread destruction, with numerous fatalities caused by fallen trees and power lines. As of Tuesday morning, more than half a million homes were still without power, according to a USA Today power outage tracker.

North Carolina: The mountains of western North Carolina, particularly around Asheville, were overwhelmed by heavy rainfall and flooding from overflowing rivers. The storm left behind widespread devastation, taking a significant toll on lives, with at least 56 people reported dead and hundreds more still missing.

Many roads in the region remain closed due to fallen trees and debris from damaged structures, according to CNN. The Asheville Citizen Times reported 47 deaths in Buncombe County by September 30. Iconic areas like the River Arts District and Biltmore Village in Asheville were destroyed by floods. Other affected counties include Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey. Thousands remain without power as rescue operations continue, and the full scale of the damage in western North Carolina is still unfolding.

‘The river carried my neighbor’s house right into the middle of the main road, colliding with another house on its way downstream,’ said nature writer Leigh Ann Henion, author of Night Magic, speaking on Tuesday from her home in Boone, North Carolina. ‘Every time I look around, I see something else out of place—a bicycle, a toilet, a wheelbarrow stuck in a tree. It’s overwhelming. We’re doing our best to move forward, even though what’s happened is beyond comprehension.’

Writer Travis Marshall, who lives in Bent Creek, North Carolina, about 20 minutes from downtown Asheville, shared on Tuesday that military helicopters were flying overhead as he stayed close to home.

‘I haven’t ventured past our nearest grocery store because we’re trying to save fuel,’ he explained. ‘I haven’t seen the worst of the destruction firsthand.’

‘It feels like we’re trapped,’ Marshall said. ‘Our neighborhood has a backup water supply, so we switched over when the city water went out. Thankfully, power was restored after about 12 hours, but many parts of the city are still without it.’

Tennessee: Rising waters from the Pigeon and French Broad rivers caused road closures and prompted evacuations and water rescues in eastern Tennessee. Floodwaters also trapped workers at a plastics plant in the region, leading to several fatalities.

Virginia: Flooding devastated communities in southwest Virginia, including Damascus and Marion, located just north of the Tennessee border. Homes and roads were destroyed, and two fatalities have been reported.

How has travel and transportation been impacted?

Florida’s major airports quickly resumed operations after the storm passed. These included Tampa International (KTPA), St. Pete–Clearwater International (KPIE), Gainesville Regional (KGNV), and Tallahassee International Airport (KTLH). Orlando International Airport (MCO) remained open and operational throughout the storm.

Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, the busiest airport in the U.S., is fully operational.

Many Gulf Coast beaches in Florida reopened this week after residents and business owners were allowed to return and assess the damage. However, numerous beachfront hotels remain closed. Travelers with upcoming reservations should contact the properties directly for the latest reopening updates.

Commercial flights resumed at Asheville Regional Airport on Monday, September 30, according to the airport's website. However, airlines have yet to return to full flight schedules. Passengers are advised not to visit the airport in person to check on their flights, but to contact their airlines for the most up-to-date information.

According to the latest updates from Explore Asheville:

• The Blue Ridge Parkway is currently closed
• The Biltmore Estate is temporarily closed until October 15
• Much of Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are closed
• Several North Carolina state parks are closed
• All Asheville city parks, community centers, and public facilities are closed
• All Buncombe County parks are closed

If you have travel plans or hotel bookings in any of the affected areas, it's important to call ahead to confirm that the property is still open and that transportation to and from the location is safe and available.

As per the North Carolina Department of Transportation's website, all roads in western North Carolina are closed, and non-essential travel is prohibited. The state's governor has made this restriction clear.

‘Treat the roads in western North Carolina as closed,’ Governor Roy Cooper told CNN on Monday. ‘We do not need sightseers coming to view the damage. Please stay away unless you are there to assist with rescue efforts.’

As of Monday, many roads in eastern Tennessee, including parts of I-40 and I-26, remained closed.

How has communication been impacted? Is cell service still available?

Cell service and communication were disrupted across the areas affected by Helene, and many regions are still not fully operational. As of Monday, Asheville and nearby towns remained without power, and while cell service is being gradually restored, it remains limited in some parts of North Carolina, according to the New York Times.

As of September 30, AT&T reported that 60% of the affected cell towers in the hurricane's path had been brought back online.

Verizon is waiving domestic calls, texts, and data charges for postpaid customers in the storm-impacted areas of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina from September 28 to October 5, 2024.

How long will recovery take?

Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches and the urban areas around Tampa Bay, including Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, were hit by a devastating storm surge. Beaches saw huge amounts of sand wash onto properties, streets, and businesses as the Gulf of Mexico waters surged inland, with popular tourist destinations like Anna Maria Island, St. Pete Beach, Clearwater Beach, and Longboat Key experiencing what is being called the worst storm in a century. Cleanup efforts are underway, though as of September 30, around 79,965 Floridians remained without power, according to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s office.

‘While beaches and barrier islands are open, some areas are still working on restoring power, and others on the southern end of the beaches are focused on bringing back potable water,’ a Visit St. Pete-Clearwater spokesperson shared with Dinogo. ‘Though we can’t offer a specific timeline, recovery is underway as local leaders, residents, and business owners unite to restore the exceptional experiences our shores, Gulf waters, and beachfront hotels provide. Visitors and locals can still enjoy numerous art and cultural experiences, attractions, fantastic dining, and outdoor adventures in Pinellas County.’

Communities on the mainland to the south, like Bradenton, remained mostly unaffected, but the barrier islands and Cortez Village took a hit from Hurricane Helene, according to Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

‘Mainland businesses, hotels, nature reserves, attractions, and restaurants are welcoming families,’ Falcione said. ‘Our hospitality industry is strong and already in recovery mode, supported by statewide partners like the Florida Department of Transportation and local government efforts.’

Local officials in Asheville and surrounding western North Carolina areas are still deep in relief efforts and damage assessment. It may take months before some routes reopen in the region due to destroyed bridges, collapsed roadways, and landslides.

While many eastern Tennessee communities are still recovering, most of Tennessee is open for business, including cities like Chattanooga, Gatlinburg, Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville.

Hurricane Helene caused extensive damage to many communities in western North Carolina, but Jackson County was fortunate enough to avoid a direct impact, according to Nick Breedlove, executive director of the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority.

While the area did face issues such as fallen trees, flooding, mudslides, and power outages, most of the damage was concentrated in southern Jackson County, Breedlove added.

‘Emergency response teams are working diligently to restore power, telecommunications, and safe drinking water, while also assisting with recovery in the more heavily impacted areas,’ Breedlove shared.

How can travelers lend a hand?

Several organizations have mobilized to aid in Hurricane Helene’s relief efforts. For those looking to contribute, here are a few groups currently providing on-the-ground assistance to communities affected by the storm.

North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund

All donations to this fund are directed toward disaster relief and supporting nonprofits that are addressing the urgent needs of storm survivors in western North Carolina. Contributions will help provide essentials like food, water, cleaning supplies, and other emergency items.

Donate now

The Always Asheville Fund

This local initiative is focused on providing direct assistance to the Asheville area as it recovers from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Your donation will support the ongoing recovery efforts.

Donate now

Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina

This Raleigh-based organization is deploying mobile refrigeration units and food delivery trucks to bring emergency supplies and ready-to-eat meals to families in the hardest-hit areas.

Donate now

World Central Kitchen

José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen is already actively distributing meals to storm-affected communities across Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. You can support their efforts by donating directly on their website.

Donate now

Metropolitan Ministries

Focused on assisting families and individuals in the Tampa Bay area, this organization is collecting funds to provide shelter, meals, water, and other essential support to those displaced by the storm.

Donate now

Water Mission

Water Mission is providing vital aid to North Carolina's hardest-hit areas, including delivering generators, safe drinking water, and other essential supplies.

Donate now