'We had entire roads collapse:' Road closures make it harder for western NC towns to get supplies, aid

Hurricane Helene's devastation to western North Carolina has caused many road closures, making it harder for many communities to get critical aid.

In small towns like Banner Elk. residents have been working to help each other but supplies are starting to dwindle.

"We had entire roads collapse - the main roads in and out of town," said Victoria Breckenridge, co-owner of Mountain Grounds coffee shop. ""One main road into Banner Elk, Tynecastle Highway, was completely cut in half...the entire road was gone."

Breckenridge co-owns the shop with her husband, Hayden. They are among a lucky few in the area with electricity, so they are offering free food and drink to help those in need.

"It's been amazing to see just the hugs. People are coming in, reconnecting," Hayden Breckenridge aid. "It's one of those surreal moments; almost like a movie, how people are reacting."

The couple has said the community has come together with Lowe's hardware offering water, propane tanks and grills to make hot food. The National Guard also brought in helicopters to drop off ready to at meals, water and other supplies.

But now, supplies are running out and nearby grocery stores closed. It is hard to know when they'll be able to get a restock.

"These makeshift roads that were built look like goat paths that animals herd around. They're worried that 18-wheelers will not be able to get in for some time," Victoria Breckenridge said. "That's something we are still navigating through - what do food deliveries look like?"

Rob Handfield, professor of Supply Chain Management at North Carolina State University, said a true fix for the supply chain issue is probably months away.

"This could definitely impact the economy of North Carolina and other parts of the east coast as well," Handfield said. "We could see shortage. There could even be problems in getting gasoline at pumps."

Handfield noted that interstates 40 and 26 are major thoroughfares. "Large portions of those roads have been damaged or destroyed. It definitely is going to probably reroute a lot of traffic, a lot of freight especially that goes through there," he said.

The supply chain disruption is one of the worst the state has ever seen, Handfield said.

The Breckenridges are just trying to navigate what's next, as they hope to rebuild.

"It's going to be months if not years, but my optimism is, I think we can build back stronger this time. I think a lot of the roads and infrastructure were dated," said Hayden Breckenridge.