National Media Outlet Highlights Buncombe County’s Inadequate Helene Response
On Sunday, The Washington Post published a lengthy article detailing the challenges in responding to the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The article highlighted the increase in water vapor in the atmosphere and that inland communities across the country have not adapted to this new flooding threat.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the report.
Buncombe County, like many inland counties, lacked a flood evacuation plan before Helene arrived. The lack of a plan contributed to the logistical nightmare of evacuating residents as the floodwaters rose. Buncombe County was listed as a host county for people fleeing the storm, despite the forecast predicting danger for the region.
The National Weather Service accurately predicted the rain and flooding. But local leaders failed to translate that into action. Compared to residents in Florida in the immediate path of Helene, residents of North Carolina did not leave the path of the storm.
Buncombe County officials urged residents to evacuate low-lying areas a couple of days before the storm but declined to issue a mandatory evacuation. The lack of clarity for local leaders meant that the majority of residents remained in harm’s way as the storm struck North Carolina.
The mandatory evacuation only occurred as floodwaters began to rise, after the roads had become degraded, and residents struggled to escape the danger zone.
The majority of inland counties, including Buncombe County in North Carolina, still lack a freshwater evacuation plan, creating an opportunity for another disaster somewhere else.
