NCDOT: Consider all roads in western North Carolina closed by Helene

Highway damage near TampaFlorida DOTEmergency workers continue to respond ion the wake of Hurricane Helene, which slammed much of the Southeast with record high winds and massive amounts of rain. The storm’s death toll stands at at least 52 — including three firefighters —  and more than 3 million homes and business remain without power.

The storm caused numerous travel problems. The North Carolina Department of Transportation said on its website, “Shelter in place. All roads in Western NC should be considered closed. Unless yoiu are seeking higher ground, motorists should not travel in this area, shopuld not attempt to drive through standing water and must respect all barricades and road closed signs.”

Helene made landfall in the Florida panhandle late Thursday night as a Category 4 storm with winds of over 140 mph. The storm then overspread Georgia, North and South Carolina and Tennessee destroying homes and businesses, causing record flooding and billions of dollars worth of damage.

Love’s Travel Stops reports 10 locations in Florida and Georgia are either closed or have some sort of business interruption. See the complete list.

Pilot reports 17 Pilot, Flying J and One9 locations closed or with reduced services. See complete list.

Travel Centers of America report 12 locations closed or with reduced services. See complete list.

Five southern states declared emergency waivers of hours of service regulations for companies and drivers providing supplies and equipment for relief efforts.

Helene was the eighth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1.