PVC pipes swept away by Hurricane Helene flooding still dominate cleanup of North Carolina river

Cleanup efforts along a North Carolina river in Woodfin continue to be dominated by large quantities of PVC pipes swept away by Hurricane Helene. The debris remains heavily scattered across the landscape, piled on river banks, lodged in uprooted trees, embedded in sediment, and jammed under logs.

Much of the displaced material is tangled within massive mounds of debris reaching up to two stories high. The ongoing recovery highlights the severe and lasting environmental impact of the storm, which previously leveled forests, bulldozed houses, and filled parts of western North Carolina.