Travel in and out of much of Western North Carolina is nearly impossible after heavy rains and flooding battered the state in the path of Hurricane Helene.

Governor Roy Cooper is urging tourists to stay away, but other parts of Western North Carolina are welcoming people back in.

Heavy rains before and during Helene over the Appalachian Mountains have washed out numerous roads and bridges. Here are some detours around the damage.

After making landfall in Florida on Thursday, Hurricane Helene continued north, bringing catastrophic flooding to western North Carolina and parts of South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Asheville,

North Carolina has been devastated by flooding and mudslides after the remnants of Hurricane Helene tore through the state.

Caravans of food, water and supplies were moving into western North Carolina this week as residents and local officials grappled with devastation never before seen in the region. The big picture: Hurricane Helene has left officials in six Southeastern states struggling to respond to the widespread destruction it caused after hitting Florida as a Category 4 storm last week,

The situation is dire. Many North Carolina communities haven’t had fresh water, internet or cell service for multiple days.

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on Thursday as a Category 4 hurricane, and has since gained strength and continued to travel across the Southeast, resulting in devastating winds and flooding,