It may take time to understand just how severe the flood damage from Hurricane Helene is in western North Carolina.

Some areas of the mountains received more than two feet of rain over the last few days, which has led to catastrophic flooding and mudslides, leaving entire towns cut off from travel and communication with people outside the community.

“It is bad. Total devastation. I am driving down the mountain to get cell service. No power, no water, no way to communicate. I’m safe, but many are trapped,” one coach told HighSchoolOT’s Joel Bryant in a text message.

Attempts to reach some coaches and athletic directors have been unsuccessful due to a lack of cell service in the region.

One coach told Bryant he was using a generator in order to communicate because there was no electricity or cell service.

“We are safe but everything is completely destroyed. Our road is completely washed away. Trees through houses everywhere you look,” the coach said. “We are stuck.”

East Henderson High School’s football stadium received damage when trees fell on the visitors side, including damaging the bleachers.

HighSchoolOT has also learned that Pisgah High School’s football stadium and other athletic facilities, such as the softball field, have significant flooding. The flood waters in the football stadium got as high as five rows from the top of the visitors bleachers, according to one witness. Pisgah’s stadium, located in Canton, sits just yards from the Pigeon River.

In 2021, Tropical Storm Fred caused flooding along the Pigeon River in Canton, which destroyed the Pisgah stadium. It took more than two years for the stadium to be repaired, finally reopening in 2023. Pisgah did not play a home game during that period.

HighSchoolOT has attempted to reach out to representatives at Pisgah but those attempts have been unsuccessful so far.

Video and photos posted to social media show significant flooding in the stadium at Freedom High School in Morganton as well.

“Let everyone know as bad as it may seem from the outside, it’s worse. Just no way for people to communicate to let the outside know how bad it is in remote areas,” Asheville football coach Cort Radford said.

What the path forward could look like

It’s too soon to know how long the impacts of Helene could keep high school football teams off the field in western North Carolina, but it’s safe to assume the return won’t be immediate.

Depending on how long schools are closed and teams are unable to practice and play, the N.C. High School Athletic Association may consider adjusting the schedule for the remainder of the season. Though it is too early for the NCHSAA to make such a decision, there is a precedent for such a move.

In 2018, the NCHSAA extended the football season by one week after the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Florence in the southeast part of the state. The season was also extended in 2016 after Hurricane Matthew caused severe flooding in the eastern half of the state.

Other sports have also been impacted by schedule changes. In 2016, the volleyball and boys soccer playoff schedules were condensed to allow more time for regular season games to be completed.

The sports calendar is not top of mind for people in western North Carolina right now though.

“Football doesn’t matter right now, but it can give the community something to rally around,” a coach said. “The state is going to have to help us out. We scheduled our game for Monday but there is no way that happens in my opinion. We could be out of school for a while.”

Numerous games are scheduled to be played across the state on Saturday and Monday, but it is unlikely many games in the western part of the state are played by then.

The season is currently in Week 6. There are five weeks left in the regular season.

How to help those affected

HighSchoolOT will compile a list of efforts to help those affected by the storms. If you are aware of recovery efforts from schools and teams, please send details to [email protected].

• Ballantyne Ridge @ Ardrey Kell — At Saturday’s game, bring supplies to donate to those affected by the storm. Supplies will be delivered by air on Sunday.

Source: highschoolot.com