ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Cleanup is underway in the western part of North Carolina.

Over a foot of rain fell across much of the region in the past several days, setting the stage for an unfolding disaster as Helene moved through as a tropical storm Friday morning. There was severe flooding and mudslides.

“This is the most significant natural disaster that any one of us has ever seen in western North Carolina,” Ryan Cole, Buncombe County assistant emergency services director, said.

Houses and businesses are flooded, damaged, or destroyed. Debris and mud were all over the roads.

WATCH | See the aftermath of Helene in Asheville

Gov. Roy Cooper spoke with Eyewitness News on Saturday about the state’s effort to help those impacted by the storm.

“This storm has brought catastrophic devastation to western North Carolina, of historic proportions,” he said. “We are engaged in a coordinated effort right now with the priority being to get people out and supplies in.”

Cooper said supplies were being airlifted to that part of the state. Buncombe County officials said Interstate 26 between Asheville and South Carolina had reopened, but most other routes into the city were impassible.

He is expected to visit the western part of the state over the next couple of days.

WATCH: Gov. Cooper speaks on recovery efforts in western NC

On Friday, crews conducted over 100 swift-water rescues, about half of them around Asheville. People were emotional after being reunited with their loved ones.

Washed-out roads prevented first responders from making it to some calls, according to Cole. That included a mudslide that involved four homes and left an undetermined number of people unaccounted for.

On X, the department said: “As crews work to clear and inspect roads and bridges, please give them room.”

More than 700,000 customers were without power across North Carolina, including about 100,000 in Buncombe County. In Asheville, there was no cellular service and no timeline for restoration. Residents were also directed to boil their water. Local officials said they were working on setting up hubs to distribute food and water.

“We have had some loss of life,” County Emergency Services Director Van Taylor Jones told reporters. However, he said they were not ready to report specifics as they were hindered in contacting next of kin by the communications outages. Police Chief Michael Lamb said his department had a list of about 60 people whose relatives had not been able to reach them and were seeking welfare checks.

Early Saturday morning, many gas stations were closed because they didn’t have electricity, and the few that were open had hourlong lines wrapped around the block. Where traffic lights were dark, drivers treated the intersections as four-way stops. The hub of tourism and arts, home to about 94,000 people, was unusually still after floodwaters swamped neighborhoods known for drawing visitors including Biltmore Village and the River Arts District, which is home to numerous galleries, shops, and breweries.

As of Saturday night, the governor’s office confirmed 10 storm deaths statewide but did not provide a breakdown of where they occurred. Dozens of people nationwide were confirmed dead from Helene’s effects.

The storm, now a post-tropical cyclone, is expected to hover over the Tennessee Valley into the weekend, the National Storm Center said. Several flood and flash flood warnings remain in effect in parts of the south and central Appalachians. High wind warnings are also issued in parts of Tennessee and Ohio.

WATCH | ‘Terrible’ Helene leaves western NC with major flooding, all roads declared closed

In Boone, Appalachian State University announced that classes are canceled on its Boone and Hickory campuses. A adverse weather condition 3 is in effect for non-faculty employees through 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4.

Cleanup Resources & More

Crisis Cleanup has a number available for folks to call for assistance with debris cleanup from Hurricane Helene: (844) 965-1386. All services are free, but not guaranteed.

The hotline will remain open through Friday, October 11.

You can use the Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network to track water levels near you and which areas may be impacted by flooding.

You can report a power outage at 57801, use the Duke Energy app or their website.

You can check for road closures due to the storm.

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