Janice R. Andrews
When Will Power Be Restored? Exhausted Carolinas Residents Seek Relief After Helene’s Wrath
In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, residents throughout the Carolinas are still dealing with the fallout. The powerful storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on September 26, left widespread destruction in its path, and many communities remain without electricity, clean water, and essential services as they wait anxiously for help.
In Asheville, Julianne Johnson, a mother and employee at a land conservation organization, has been without power for a week. She and her neighbors have been cooking with propane stoves and using dry erase boards to stay informed about local developments. Despite receiving a message from Duke Energy that power would be restored by Friday evening, utility poles and wires were still strewn across the streets, tangled with fallen trees by midday.
“I have no idea what comes next,” Johnson said. Though her family has access to a generator, the situation remains critical for many others.
Helene’s Aftermath: Devastation and Loss
Hurricane Helene has claimed over 220 lives across six states, including 72 deaths in Buncombe County, which encompasses Asheville. As of Friday, nearly 700,000 homes and businesses—mainly in the Carolinas and Georgia—remained without electricity. Although this is an improvement from the 2 million power outages reported earlier in the week, it could take days, or even weeks, for power to be fully restored in areas with extensive damage.
Duke Energy spokesperson Bill Norton acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, “We’re talking about areas where homes no longer exist, and some roads have been completely washed away.” The company initially aimed to restore power in South Carolina by Friday, but has now pushed the deadline to Sunday. Similarly, Dominion Energy has extended the timeline for restoring power to the most severely affected counties.
Slow Progress in Restoring Utilities
On Asheville’s east side along Swannanoa River Road, utility workers were busy on Friday afternoon installing new electricity poles after floodwaters destroyed or swept away the old ones. David Martin, an engineer with Duke Energy, described the damage as the worst he’s seen in his 30-year career. “Usually, repairing the grid means just putting the wires back up, but this time, everything is gone—new poles, new wires, new transformers, new services.”
Martin explained that placing a single pole can take up to two hours, and that’s just the beginning—there are thousands of poles to replace. To make matters worse, hand-digging is required in many areas due to underground gas lines, slowing down progress.
In some locations, workers must wait for roads to be rebuilt before they can continue restoring power. In one instance, Duke Energy’s power lines were washed onto a golf course, tangled up with trees and poles. The work is slow and labor-intensive.
The Ongoing Water Crisis
The storm also caused unprecedented damage to water systems across a large region, with officials warning that repairs could take weeks. The lack of clean running water is compounding the difficulties faced by residents.
“I would love to take a shower,” said Asheville resident Sue Riles. “Running water would be amazing.” In the meantime, some residents have been collecting water from creeks just to flush toilets. Officials have advised locals to gather non-drinkable water from nearby swimming pools for household needs while clean water remains scarce.
The severe damage to water utilities has delayed the reopening of schools, hospitals, and businesses. Schools are unable to resume in-person classes, hospitals are operating at reduced capacity, and many hotels and restaurants remain closed due to a lack of basic utilities.
Widespread Loss and Heartbreak Across the Southeast
The devastation caused by Helene extends well beyond the Carolinas. In Florida, 12 people lost their lives in the Tampa area, with the worst damage occurring on the narrow barrier islands near St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Resident Dave Behringer described how rapidly the water rose during the storm. “Even if you wanted to leave, there was no way out.”
One of the victims in Florida was 71-year-old Aiden Bowles, a retired restaurant owner who refused to leave his home on Indian Rocks Beach, despite the pleas of his caregiver, Amanda Normand. “He told me, ‘It’s going to be fine. I’m just going to bed,’” Normand recalled of their final conversation before the storm hit.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina, rescue crews and volunteers are still working to reach isolated areas cut off by washed-out roads, downed power lines, and mudslides. In Buncombe County, around 75 people remain missing, and search efforts are ongoing. Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller offered reassurance to the community: “We know these are tough times, but please know we’re on our way. We’re coming to get you.”
A Lengthy Recovery Ahead
As the Carolinas and other parts of the Southeast continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is: when will things return to normal? With ongoing efforts to restore power, rebuild water systems, and repair infrastructure, residents remain hopeful, though they know the recovery process will take time.
For now, Johnson and her neighbors in Asheville, like many others across the region, are relying on one another for support. From sharing food to lending tools for repairs, they continue to come together as they navigate the long road to recovery.
“I don’t know when life will get back to normal,” Johnson said, “but we’ll get through it.”
