North Carolina Colleges Grapple With 'Catastrophic Impacts' Of Hurricane Helene

North Carolina colleges in Hurricane Helene's path have canceled classes for up to two weeks as they recover from last week's storm, with some still lacking access to electricity, water and other essentials.

The University of North Carolina in Asheville was hit particularly hard, with its campus remaining closed until Oct. 14, according to a Tuesday Facebook post from the school.

"While the campus sustained minimal structural damage, UNC Asheville has been without electricity, running water, and internet since Friday," the post read.

Classes at Western North Carolina University and Appalachian State University have also been canceled until Oct. 4. School officials at Western North Carolina University said they are advising students to stay in the area due to the multiple major interstate closures.

Meanwhile, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College will be closed until further notice due to the "catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene," according to the school's website.

Additionally, McDowell Technical Community College in Marion will not allow students to return to class until at least Oct. 7, with employees returning on a phased schedule.

"Please note that we are taking every precaution to prioritize the health and safety of our staff and faculty, and we will follow all McDowell County and State Emergency Management recommended guidelines during this transition," school officials said in a statement.

According to WXII 12 News, a curfew remains in place for Watauga County, the town of Blowing Rock, and the town of Boone in North Carolina from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. due to severely compromised roads and emergency operations taking place in the area.

In a Monday statement, Montreat College said it's still assessing the campus conditions after the storm and cannot be certain about a return date for students.

"These decisions depend on the restoration of power, water, and critical infrastructure in our area, which is still uncertain," the statement read.

Most of the schools are closed due to power outages in the area, which has raised concerns about student safety while living on campus.