Asheville Braces for Flooding as Hurricane Helene Strikes, Prompting Urgent Emergency Measures

Asheville Faces Flooding from Hurricane Helene

In the lovely city of Asheville, nestled in the scenic mountains of North Carolina, the normally tranquil French Broad River recently became a source of concern for local transportation authorities. As Hurricane Helene made its way inland, passing through Florida and moving toward Asheville, the river—known for its peaceful currents—threatened to overflow, leading to significant worries about the safety of motorists traveling on Interstate 40.

Unexpected Predictions

Surprisingly, just a day before Helene even hit the shores, predictions from the state’s two-year-old flood warning system indicated that the river could rise as much as two feet above its usual level, potentially flooding sections of I-40. This was news that caught many off-guard, including Chad Franklin, the intelligent transportation systems engineer at the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) responsible for the Asheville region. “I was shocked when they told me that,” Franklin shared, emphasizing that this stretch of highway had never flooded before.

Initially, the storm’s impact forecast wasn’t alarming, but as Helene moved closer, richer rainfall predictions forced a reconsideration of the situation. On the morning of September 27, with dark clouds looming overhead, Franklin and his team sprang into action. NCDOT deployed safety patrol trucks to monitor I-40, ready to close the highway if water reached the pavement. It wasn’t long before their proactive measures proved crucial.

A Quick Response Saves Lives

Just before 1 p.m. that day, as Helene’s remnants battered Western North Carolina, team members and state troopers closed I-40 due to rising waters. “That flooding was more than we’d ever seen before in that area,” Franklin remarked. Thanks to the speedy closure, they potentially saved lives by preventing drivers from unknowingly entering a flooded highway, where conditions could easily turn deadly.

Indeed, the water from the French Broad surged and reached as much as 8 feet deep on I-40, leaving both the highway and local communities grappling with the aftermath. The floodwaters finally receded late the following night, leaving people reflecting on how close things had come.

The Importance of Technology

This alarming incident highlighted how essential NCDOT’s flood warning system is in identifying vulnerable roads and bridges ahead of time. Utilizing rainfall data, advanced software, and hundreds of stream gauges, the system not only predicts where flooding might occur but also monitors the situation in real time.

Currently, NCDOT keeps an eye on flood conditions at more than 15,000 bridges and 2,000 miles of state-maintained roads. Interestingly, their system is based on an earlier model known as the Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network (FIMAN), which focused on flooding vulnerability to homes and businesses before expanding to road safety.

Improving Flood Monitoring

Initially aimed at the eastern part of the state—frequently affected by hurricanes—NCDOT believes it’s high time to up the game in the mountainous Western North Carolina, where only a minor number of gauging stations exist. In partnership with N.C. Emergency Management and with added funding from the legislature, plans are underway to install over 100 additional stream and river gauges in the coming years, ensuring more comprehensive monitoring and quicker responses in emergencies.

The team is already looking to improve their experiences gained from Hurricane Helene, particularly focusing on maintaining communication even during outages, which affected key gauges after cell service failed. “Our goal is to save lives,” said Matt Lauffer, the state hydraulics engineer at NCDOT, emphasizing their commitment to make improvements to the alert system after each storm.

Looking Ahead

Hurricane Helene serves as a potent reminder of the unpredictable forces of nature and the critical importance of preparedness and responsive measures. The safety of Asheville and surrounding areas depends on these systems, and it’s clear that advancements in technology and strategic planning continue to play a significant role in community safety.