Hurricane Helene, a tropical storm by the time it hit North Carolina, brought rain and wind to Burke County Friday, Sept. 28.
The storm left heavy flooding along the Catawba River and knocked out power, water and cell service for much of the county.
Morganton flooding 1
An Ingles grocery store on U.S. 70 in Morganton is flooded from the Catawba River and remnants of Hurricane Helene.
Morganton flooding
The Ingles on U.S. Highway 70 in Morganton is flooded from the Catawba River and remnants of Hurricane Helene on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Morganton flooding
The Catawba River overflowed its banks over Green Street (N.C. Highway 181) as a result of Hurricane Helene on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Morganton flooding
The Planet Fitness, Ollies and KFC in Morganton were flooded from the Catawba River and remnants of Hurricane Helene on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Morganton flooded along US 70, with Hurricane Helene remnants
Morganton flooding
A number of RVs were flooded at Riverside Golf and RV Park on Independence Boulevard in Morganton as the Catawba River and remnants of Hurricane Helene flooded the area on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Morganton flooding
Water from the Catawba River begins to recede from Eagles Landing neighborhood in Morganton on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Morganton flooding
The football field at Freedom High School was flooded with water from the Catawba River and remnants of Hurricane Helene on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Morganton flooding
A high water mark is visible on the Silver Creek Restaurant near the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 bypass and Carbon City Road in Morganton on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 28, 2024, as floodwaters from the Catawba River and remnants of Hurricane Helene begin to recede.
Freedom High School athletic fields under water, Hurricane Helene flooding
Morganton flooding
Mimosa Hills shopping center at the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 bypass and Carbon City Road in Morganton was flooded on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, from the Catawba River and remnants of Hurricane Helene .
Morganton flooding
A Kimbrell's Furniture delivery truck was submerged in the parking lot of their store in Mimosa Hills shopping center at the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 bypass and Carbon City Road in Morganton on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, from the Catawba River and remnants of Hurricane Helene.
Morganton flooding
A storage shed was swept away from flood waters of the Catawba River along Carbon City Road near the Ingles market in Morganton on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Morganton flooding
Water begins to recede on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 as seen on the west side of Spainhour Road in Morganton.
Morganton flooding
A car is submerged in the parking lot of Mimosa Hills shopping center in Morganton on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Campers flooded at Riverside Golf and RV Park in Morganton
Morganton flooding
Cars were submerged in the parking lot of Mimosa Hills shopping center at the intersection of U.S. 64 bypass and Carbon City Road in Morganton on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, from the Catawba River and remnants of Hurricane Helene .
Morganton flooding
Motorists line up for gas at the King Bee on N.C. Highway 181, west of town, one of the first convenience stores to get power on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 28, 2024.
Morganton flooding
Water begins to recede at the KFC in Mimosa Hills shopping center at the intersection of U.S. 64 bypass and Carbon City Road in Morganton on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Morganton flooding
Flood water and silt covers the floor of the KFC at Mimosa Hills shopping center at the intersection of U.S. 64 bypass and Carbon City Road in Morganton on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Morganton flooding
A family stops to view the flood waters at Mimosa Hills shopping center at the intersection of U.S. 64 bypass and Carbon City Road in Morganton on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Morganton flooding
A Volkswagen parked at the Creative Beginnings on Bost Road show signs of the water level as the Catawba River recedes on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Glen Alpine flooding
A group surveys the damage to the nine homes belonging to the extended White family along Powerhouse Road in Glen Alpine that were damaged or washed away by the flooding of the Catawba River below the Lake James dam as a result of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The family said all nine houses were damaged or washed away along with a number of outbuildings.
Glen Alpine homes washed away by Catawba River floodwaters caused by Helene
Glen Alpine flooding
One of nine houses belonging to the extended White family along Powerhouse Road in Glen Alpine was washed away by the flooding of the Catawba River below the Lake James dam as a result of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The family said all nine houses were damaged or washed away along with a number of out buildings.
Glen Alpine flooding
Several of nine houses belonging to the extended White family along Powerhouse Road in Glen Alpine were washed away by the flooding of the Catawba River below the Lake James dam as a result of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The family said all nine houses were damaged or washed away along with a number of out buildings.
Glen Alpine flooding
One of nine houses belonging to the extended White family along Powerhouse Road in Glen Alpine was washed away by the flooding of the Catawba River as a result of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
Glen Alpine flooding
The Powerhouse Road bridge over the Catawba River in Glen Alpine caught some of the debris from houses that were destroyed farther up river as seen on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Glen Alpine flooding
A hot water heater was among the debris caught by the Powerhouse Road bridge over the Catawba River in Glen Alpine as a number of houses were destroyed farther up river as seen on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Glen Alpine flooding
Debris from homes washed away by flooding are seen near the banks of the Catawba River in Glen Alpine on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Glen Alpine flooding
Several of the nine houses belonging to the extended White family along Powerhouse Road in Glen Alpine were washed away by the flooding of the Catawba River below the Lake James dam as a result of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The family said all nine houses were damaged or washed away along with a number of out buildings.
Glen Alpine flooding
Several of the nine houses belonging to the extended White family along Powerhouse Road in Glen Alpine were washed away by the flooding of the Catawba River below the Lake James dam as a result of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The family said all nine houses were damaged or washed away along with a number of out buildings.
Water pours over the Lake James dam spillway
Glen Alpine flooding
A mobile home on the banks of the Catawba River in Glen Alpine was destroyed and caught debris from other homes that were destroyed farther up river on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Glen Alpine flooding
Debris from homes washed away by flooding are seen near the banks of the Catawba River in Glen Alpine on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Glen Alpine flooding
The Powerhouse Road bridge over the Catawba River in Glen Alpine caught some of the debris from houses that were destroyed farther up river as seen on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Glen Alpine flooding
A hot water heater was among the debris caught by the Powerhouse Road bridge over the Catawba River in Glen Alpine as a number of houses were destroyed farther up river as seen on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
Glen Alpine flooding
An RV was flipped on its side along Powerhouse Road in Glen Alpine on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. It was not immediately clear how the RV was flipped.
Glen Alpine flooding
A path has been cleared to the Lake James Condominiums on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 but much work needs to be done do clear all of the downed trees and restore utilities to the neighborhood.
Flood water covered roads and homes.
“It’s devastating. It’s pretty sad to see,” one owner said.
Eight years ago, the N.C. High School Athletic Association pushed back the start of playoffs due to Hurricane Matthew. NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker said that could be a possibility again.
The disaster unemployment assistance covers individuals who are unemployed as a direct result of Hurricane Helene. Business owners and self-employed individuals affected by the storm also may qualify for benefits.
