Tourist faves Chimney Rock, Lake Lure have piles and piles of debris after Helene's floods

An hour east of Asheville sits Ellenboro Township, where Hurricane Helene left trees and powerlines strewn across roads, making transportation – even for help with storm cleanup – impossible.

“On our back roads and whatnot, there are some trees and power lines that haven’t been touched even as of today,” Brad Cummings said on Monday, four days after the storm had passed.

Cummings – a father of two with another child on the way – had to leave his home to make the call to report the storm damage.

“That’s been one of the toughest parts: not being able to communicate with your family or just the people you love,” he said. “It’s getting better.”

Another hard part of the storm’s aftermath comes in Chimney Rock Village, a tourist location familiar to many North Carolinians.

Cummings took photos at Lure Lake and nearby Chimney Rock showing piles and piles of debris.

“It’s really one of those things where I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.