I-40 east near Asheville reopens, offering an evacuation path out of Buncombe County
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Hurricane Helene Aftermath
Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer about Hurricane Helene and the aftermath, particularly in Western North Carolina.
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Interstate 40 east from Asheville reopened on Tuesday morning.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation said the highway could be used as a path for evacuation from Asheville. Interstate 26 East, which reopened on Monday, can be used for evacuation as well.
I-40 West, which connects the state with Tennessee, and I-26 West are still closed. No timeline has been announced about when the westbound portion of those highways will be reopened.
Aside from those paths, the Department of Transportation said all western North Carolina roads “should be considered closed to all non-emergency travel.”
Buncombe Sheriff Quentin Miller said Tuesday afternoon that the county has now confirmed 57 deaths from the storm.
This story was originally published October 1, 2024 at 4:57 PM.
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