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Hurricane Helene Leaves Thousands Cut Off from Communication in Western North Carolina
Hurricane Helene causes widespread communication blackouts in western North Carolina, leaving thousands isolated with damaged cell towers, internet services, and power outages.
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ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The devastating impact of Hurricane Helene has left thousands of people in western North Carolina isolated, with widespread communication blackouts crippling cell towers and internet services.
Beyond collapsed roads and bridges, many affected areas have experienced severe to total communications blackouts due to the hurricane and subsequent flooding, power outages, and landslides. Edward Hinson, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at SkyLine/SkyBest, described the damage to communications infrastructure as “catastrophic.”
"It's hard to foresee what the next stages look like, because we're still just assessing so much damage," Hinson told NBC News. “I don't know how to articulate how bad the damage is.”
The damage is difficult to analyze and transmit given the limited communications abilities in the area. So far, over 120 people have died as a result of the hurricane, and hundreds are still missing.
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 370 of North Carolina's 1,452 cell sites are out due to power outages, 103 are on backup power, and three are too damaged to function. Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties are particularly affected, with fewer than 10% of cell sites fully functioning.
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Two local television stations and two FM radio stations are also out of service in North Carolina, the FCC said. Internet providers' disaster contingency plans were overwhelmed by severe flooding.
"Our goal right now is to get our core network back up and running," Hinson said. “We had some of our facilities chest-deep in water. A backup generator won't help you when the building's on its side or upside-down or chest-deep in water.”
Companies tracking internet connectivity report severe to full broadband outages in western North Carolina. Waynesville and Hendersonville are completely offline, while Weaverville and Morganton have limited service. Asheville's connectivity remains at 10%, according to Isik Mater, director of research at NetBlocks.
Dee Davis, President of the Center for Rural Strategies, emphasized the emotional toll of communication disruptions. “Not knowing where loved ones are can be agonizing.”
The FCC continues to provide daily updates on connectivity in affected counties.
Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, confirmed to NBC News that Asheville's internet presence has not yet recovered. Davis lost a close friend in the eastern Kentucky floods of 2022.
"A lot of mamas and daddies who wake up and they don't know where the kids are and they don't know what to do, they're limited. That moment of powerlessness has a real effect," he said.
