The American flag stands strong after a tourist town was hit by the remnants of Hurricane Helene
Old Glory stands tall over an iconic North Carolina landmark as the state park works to inspire “hope and strength” after the powerful remnants of Hurricane Helene devastated the stunning nature lover’s paradise last week.
In a social media post, North Carolina Parks and Recreation shared a poignant photo of an American flag over Chimney Rock State Park overlooking Rutherford County. The photo also gives a glimpse of the devastation surrounding the area, with downed tree branches visible and debris strewn across the parking lot below.
“In these difficult times, we want to take a moment to thank our amazing NC State Parks employees for their dedication and resilience,” the state agency wrote in the post.
“Despite the unimaginable tragedy the state is facing, our team raised the flag at Chimney Rock on Monday, September 30, as a symbol of hope and strength for all of Western North Carolina,” the state agency said.
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An American flag is seen in an overlook at Chimney Rock State Park amid the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. (North Carolina Parks and Recreation / Facebook)
The state park is one of many areas in North Carolina that have been hit hard by the recent storm, with residents experiencing flooding and destruction.
Chimney Rock, 20 miles north of Asheville, was repaired after the storm hit the small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
“What used to be a city is now a river,” Tracey Stevens, a former Chimney Rock Brewing Co. employee, told the Asheville Citizen-Times. “It’s more than anything I can imagine.”
According to FOX Weather, the death toll has continued to rise to at least 215 people – about half of those who died in North Carolina. The storm first made landfall on the Gulf Coast in Florida and continued to wreak havoc in the Southeast.
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Search and rescue operations continue in isolated areas of western North Carolina after the disaster floods destroyed hundreds of roads and bridges after the powerful hurricane made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
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On Wednesday, President Biden visited North Carolina and got an aerial view of the damage at Chimney Rock and Lake Lure.
Biden vowed to help his government rebuild, saying the federal government would not leave “until you’re completely back on your feet.”
“I don’t have to tell this group that Hurricane Helene was a historic event,” Biden told emergency managers. “The damage is still being assessed, but the whereabouts of many people are unknown.”
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“So, I’m here to say, the United States — the nation — has your back,” he said.
