HURRICANE HELENE NC RECOVERY
Recently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers achieved a significant milestone in western North Carolina by successfully clearing 5 million cubic yards of debris.
Hurricane Helene devastated towns across the south in September, causing record rainfall and triggering historic flooding.
Even now, seven months after the incident, the cleanup operation in western North Carolina, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), is ongoing, with a particular focus on Lake Lure.
The impact of the hurricane is still evident in Lake Lure, where a popular waterpark that would typically be bustling with activity in preparation for its busiest time of the year is currently unable to function as usual. The water supply has been disconnected to facilitate debris removal, leaving the pools empty and the waterslides inactive.
Engineer George Minges said there is close to ten feet of debris under the silt and sand in some areas of Lake Lure.
Lake Lure Mayor Carol Pritchett said the town relied on contractors for the first three weeks, but the USACE has brought the town much further along.
“With the Army Corps of Engineers, they actually began three weeks after Helene, and it was a God-send. We would not be where we are today, truthfully, without them,” Pritchett said.
Pritchett said the town has a great emergency management plan in place for hurricanes, but the power of Hurricane Helene was unexpected.
“We had a great emergency plan,” Pritchett said. “It was based on and predicted on what the general perspective of what a hurricane has always meant to someone in these western North Carolina mountains … This was just not that hurricane.”
Workers have been clearing debris from storm-damaged trees for months. (FOX News)
The Army Corps of Engineers has removed more than 5 million cubic yards of debris in western North Carolina since helping with clean-up efforts in the area. Officials said the goal is to remove all debris by July.
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