NC's 6th Tropical System

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a contest about death and destruction

pathetic.

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here in va we've taken a beating too, however more to the southeast theyve had it worse (around richmond). we had a massive tornado outbreak on friday or saturday, can't remember, associated with ivan.

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Storm victims assess the ruin

Only emergency vehicles are allowed on a 20-mile section of Interstate 40 in Western North Carolina. Part of the road fell into the Pigeon River.

Staff Photo by Travis Long

By RICHARD STRADLING, Staff Writer

Ivan became the sixth tropical system to cross North Carolina in two months. At one point, Hurricane Jeanne threatened to become the seventh this week, but the storm has weakened and is expected to die in the Atlantic. Forecasters expect several fall-like days ahead in North Carolina, with no rain in sight.

Saturday brought the sun back to Western North Carolina, where 16 counties ravaged by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan were declared disaster areas.
The storm killed at least eight in North Carolina, including three in the Macon County community of Peeks Creek. Two died in Buncombe County and one each in Haywood, Henderson and Yancey counties.

More than 115 roads remained closed Saturday evening, including several main state and federal highways. A 20-mile stretch of Interstate 40 near the Tennessee line was closed after the shoulder of the eastbound lanes fell into the Pigeon River. Through traffic is detoured north on Interstate 26 to Interstate 81, adding two hours to the trip to Knoxville, Tenn.

State highway engineers will soon determine whether the westbound lanes of I-40 are stable enough to reopen and use for two-way traffic while the eastbound side is repaired, said Lacy Love, director of asset management for the state Department of Transportation.

About 600 people remained in emergency shelters Saturday. Many were unable to return home because high water had washed out bridges and roads; others had no homes to return to.

Late Saturday, President Bush agreed to Gov. Mike Easley's request for a disaster declaration, making the 16 hardest-hit counties eligible for federal assistance.

The storm, which started Thursday night and lasted through Friday, dropped 3 to 12 inches of rain on ground already saturated by the remnants of Hurricane Frances a week earlier.

Nearly 200 people were rescued from rising waters or pulled from their homes just before the flood hit, according to Rob Brisley, spokesman for the state Division of Emergency Management. On Saturday, the state used helicopters to lower rescue workers into remote areas to look for people who might be trapped or stranded.

Picking up the pieces

For the second time this month, people throughout the region swept dank, muddy water from their homes and businesses. When Hurricane Frances pushed the Pigeon River through 84-year-old Virginia Sanford's home in Clyde, her friends, Lucy and Don James, helped clean up. The Jameses were back Saturday, pushing a new layer of mud out of the house.

"She got out of here alive, but homeless," said Lucy James, 64, of Sanford. "She can't live here with this humidity, dampness and mold. It breaks her heart."

Late Saturday, 100,000 homes and businesses were without power, after torrential rain and winds up to 60 mph brought down trees and power lines. Gusty winds Saturday, particularly at higher elevations, hampered efforts to restring the wires.

"Some of what we've put up has come back down," said Nelle Hotchkiss, spokeswoman for North Carolina's electric cooperatives.

Most of the creeks and small rivers that became torrents Thursday night had returned to their banks Saturday. The French Broad remained above flood stage at Asheville and Hot Springs but was expected to recede by today.

Mudslides and washouts closed two Norfolk Southern rail lines, including the main east-west line between Asheville and Marion. Freight trains were routed through Roanoke, Va., said company spokesman Robin Chapman.

Easley said the death toll could have been higher had rescue and evacuation workers not been in place.

"The loss of life is tough," Easley told emergency workers in a conference call. "But you did everything you could to prepare."

Ivan became the sixth tropical system to cross North Carolina in two months. At one point, Hurricane Jeanne threatened to become the seventh this week, but the storm has weakened and is expected to die in the Atlantic. Forecasters expect several fall-like days ahead in North Carolina, with no rain in sight.