The torrential rains that the remnants of Hurricane Helene dumped on the North Carolina mountains two years ago this week washed out bridges and roads in more than 1,600 places, causing more damage than the N.C. Department of Transportation had ever seen in a long history of devastating hurricanes.
Repairs in the Pigeon River Gorge area begin on the eastbound lane of I-40 on Nov. 14, 2024, after water from Pigeon River damaged the interstate when Tropical Storm Helene came through western North Carolina in late September 2024.
Crews work in the Pigeon River Gorge area on the eastbound lane of I-40 in this photo taken Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, after water from Pigeon River damaged the interstate when Tropical Storm Helene came through western North Carolina.
Vehicles create a cloud of dust on Catawba Avenue, the road that connects I-40 with Main Street in Old Fort, as the town cleans up from flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Crews work in the Pigeon River Gorge area on the eastbound lane of I-40 in this photo taken Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, after water from Pigeon River damaged the interstate when Tropical Storm Helene came through western North Carolina.
Vehicles create a cloud of dust on Catawba Avenue, the road that connects I-40 with Main Street in Old Fort, as the town cleans up from flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Repairs in the Pigeon River Gorge area begin on the eastbound lane of I-40 on Nov. 14, 2024, after water from Pigeon River damaged the interstate when Tropical Storm Helene came through western North Carolina in late September 2024.