Officials: Two People Die in Landslides in Watauga County

Officials say two people died in landslides in Watauga County. Five days later after the storm, emergency officials say conditions are slowly improving but there’s still a long way to full recovery.

Driving through the area you will see bridges collapsed, sheds upside down and homes destroyed. Tanner Wilson lost his Cove Creek home and business to floodwaters.

“You eat supper in here one night then the next night you come back and it’s completely gone,” Wilson said.

His property is full of mud, but he is grateful his family is safe. Throughout the day Tuesday, volunteers, friends and family showed up to help him clean up the mess.

“We lost a lot of equipment, we run a business out of this shop here, but that’s all stuff that can be replaced the house can be replaced, my family is okay, we’re okay,” Wilson said.

Down the road, his neighbor, 10 year old Milana Pengjad remembers the moments the storm blew through Thursday night into Friday.

“Our trampoline flipped over and the wind was so strong and our creek was overflowing,” Pengjad said. “It looked more like a lake or river.”

Emergency officials say First Responders took more than 2,000 calls Friday, compared to 3,000 on average per month. Five days later, some communities are still inaccessible by vehicle and crews will begin venturing into the areas by horseback.

“This storm exceeded all forecast expectations with total rainfall, river flooding and a conjunction with tropical storm force winds combined to bring the worst natural disaster in modern history to our county,” Watauga County Emergency Management Director Will Holt said.

Two hundred roads remain closed, parts of the county are still without water and officials estimate it could be at least a week until power is restored to tens of thousands of customers.

“Some of the things I’ve seen and some of the things I’ve heard over the last five days, I would not wish on anyone,” Boone Mayor Tim Futrelle said. “But I want you to know our community is strong and we will find a way to come back.”