Helene recovery efforts continue; Biden orders another 500 active-duty troops for western NC

The facts emerging from Hurricane Helene's destruction are heartrending: Businesses and homes destroyed, whole communities nearly wiped out, hundreds of lives lost, hundreds of people missing.

Yet this devastation and despair is not enough for the extremist groups, disinformation agents, hucksters and politicians who are exploiting the disaster to spread false claims and conspiracy theories about it and the government's response.

According to former President Donald Trump, the federal government is intentionally withholding aid to Republican disaster victims. Far-right extremist groups warn on social media that officials plan to bulldoze affected communities and seize the land from residents. A tale straight from science fiction asserts that Washington used weather control technology to steer Helene toward Republican voters to tilt the presidential election toward Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

The claims, according to experts and local officials dealing with disaster response, say less about the reality of the widespread damage from Helene than they do about America's fractured politics and the fear and distrust shadowing an election year marked by assassination attempts and escalating global tension.

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Residents in western North Carolina are still working to salvage what is left of their homes on Saturday a week after Helene.

In Swannanoa, recovery efforts continue after roads were broken apart, foundations were ripped off of homes, and entire areas were swept away by the river.

"We're gonna praise God through the storm, it's been rough," said resident Regae Eager.

She and her husband rode out the storm in Swannanoa. Water did not enter into the Eager's home but across the street, they said a condo had people that were stuck on the second floor.

Another home was swept off its foundation and water flooded inside.

"We just need people to come and offer help," one resident said.

The whole town is full of demolished homes and cars and just down the road, National Guard crews are deploying from a field near I-40 to more remote areas that are even worse.

In nearby Black Mountain, a one-stop shop was mobilized to get residents essentials and send crews to clean up debris.

The 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate, Asheville's biggest attraction that welcomes 1.4 million visitors a year, had significant damage in some buildings after Helene ripped through Western North Carolina, the Biltmore said.

"We are still assessing impacts to the estate from Tropical Storm Helene and that will take some time," the Biltmore said in a statement Thursday.

The estate is home to the Biltmore House, America's largest privately owned mansion. The 250-room house, along with the estate's winery, conservatory and hotels, "received minimal or no damage from the storm," the Biltmore said.

But low-lying parts of the estate, including the entrance and the farm, "experienced significant flooding and damage to buildings," the Biltmore said. "We sadly lost a few of our animals during the storm, but the vast majority are safe and accounted for."

In the forested areas, which make up "a large portion of the estate, wind damage is extensive to grounds and some structures," the Biltmore said. "Crews have been working tirelessly to clear roads so we can begin repairs."

When will the Biltmore reopen?

It's not clear when the estate will reopen, but "Initial assessments indicate the estate will be closed to guests until at least October 15," the Biltmore said on its website. "We will continue to provide updates about operations beyond that date as they are available."

Biltmore Estate is in Buncombe County, the unexpected epicenter of deaths and destruction from Helene. At least 72 victims have died in Buncombe County as of Friday, and about 78,000 homes and businesses there still didn't have power one week after Helene's deadly rampage.

The electricity substation serving Biltmore Village, a popular destination just outside the estate, had catastrophic damage and will take months to repair, regional power company Duke Energy said Friday.

"The water line is almost to the top of that substation," Duke Energy spokesperson Bill Norton said. "That substation alone is going to take three or four months to repair. Obviously, we are not going to keep those customers out for three or four months. So what we did is we wheeled in a 200,000-pound mobile substation."

The mobile substation is expected to be powered by Sunday. "We're digging new spots for wiring so that it will be underground and safe," Norton said.

About 105,000 homes and businesses in Western North Carolina will have "long-term" power outages after Helene demolished key infrastructure, Norton said.

As for the Biltmore Village substation that will take months to repair, Norton said crews will try to "build it again on higher ground over the floodwall around it."

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There have been between 32 and 37 near misses between aircraft over the skies of North Carolina since Helene hit, a federal official with direct knowledge told ABC News.

There has been a 300% increase in aircraft in the skies over the western part of the state since the storm, according to the FAA.

It's not believed any commercial planes were involved in these close calls.

Officials are now requiring pilots to ask permission to fly into affected areas before flights to keep air traffic in check and maintain control.