(WLOS) — (11 a.m.) – Governor Roy Cooper holds a press conference on Helene preparations.

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(10 a.m.) – Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder and Buncombe County EMS Director Taylor Jones provide an update on Hurricane Helene preparations and precautions, as well as the current state of emergency.

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Due to persistent rain and downpours, flooding and power outages were reported in the mountains for Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

Since Thursday morning NCDOT According to the station, more than 30 roads around the mountains are closed due to the weather. News 13 emergency crews reported standing water on parts of Interstate 26 early Thursday morning.

A viewer’s video from Biltmore Village in Asheville showed cars driving through floodwaters; one limousine was nearly submerged.

Buncombe, Haywood and other mountain counties declare states of emergency

A photo from Spruce Pine showed floodwaters at a cabin on Gem Mountain. A video showed water rushing under a nearby road.

Emergency officials in Rutherford County issued an alert around 11:38 p.m. Wednesday that the Lake Lure floodgates were operating at water levels over 6 feet deep, and urged residents in low-lying areas below the dam to be alert for rising water.

Due to flash flooding, the McDowell County Emergency Management Agency ordered a mandatory evacuation of the River Breeze Campground in Marion. An emergency shelter was open at Glenwood Baptist Church, 155 Glenwood Baptist Church Road.

INTERACTIVE RADAR

From Thursday, 8 a.m., Duke Energy reportsThousands of customers are without power, including more than 4,500 in Henderson County, more than 2,000 in Buncombe County, 1,900 in McDowell and 1,800 in Macon.

HELENE IS DOWNGRADED TO HURRICANE CATEGORY 2 AS IT HEADS TOWARDS FLORIDA

Many School districts And public officesover the mountainshave closedThursday due to the risk of flooding and wind. Local states of emergency were declared and at state level.

Until Helene arrives in the mountains, heavy and widespread rain will continue on Thursday. Rain will become even heavier overnight and in the morning.

NEWS 13 WEATHER

Helene will rapidly strengthen as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, making landfall in the Florida Panhandle later Thursday. On its current track, the storm will move toward WNC, with winds and heavy rain possible Thursday night into Friday morning.

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