SOUTHPORT, N.C. (WECT) – As crisis unfolds in North Carolina, impacts from Hurricane Helene continue to be felt across North Carolina.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation reports that over 300 roads are closed in Western NC.
Parts of I-40 are impassible still, three days after the storm hit.
Those left with a place to call home are now cut off from help with widespread power outages.
Governor Roy Cooper asks that all drivers stay off the roads.
“We are sending a stern message to people. Consider the roads closed in Western North Carolina,” Gov. Cooper said.
This tragedy comes after storms from Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 damaged several roads around Southport just two weeks ago, causing major traffic backups as drivers commute into and out of the city.
Back in southeastern North Carolina, an NCDOT engineer told WECT that crews continue to work on NC 211 and the road collapse on Moore St.
Those roads won’t likely be fully open for weeks, but it is still a priority for crews in Brunswick County, even with the damage out west.
“Of course, for Western NC. There are multiple DOT crews throughout the state that are going to mobilize to help them, but we are still focused on making sure that we get the roads open for the Brunswick County community as well,” Jessi Leonard, an assistant division 3 maintenance engineer, said.
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