Updated — September 2004

The remnants of Hurricane Frances tracked across western North Carolina on September 8, 2004. In addition to flooding, property damage and interruption of transportation corridors occurred owing to landslides and downslope movement of earth and rock triggered by very heavy and intense rainfall. These are examples of landslides induced by heavy rainfall from Hurricane Frances.

Return to our "What's News" page for a link to a page showing counties affected by landslides from Hurricane Ivan.

Landslide fact sheet — Western North Carolina

Click here for a landslide fact sheet for western North Carolina (PDF file only).

Counties affected by landslides — Western North Carolina

The following graphic shows North Carolina counties affected by landslides for which we have information from Hurricane Frances.

For additional information

The contact for additional information about geologic hazards in North Carolina is Mr. Richard Wooten, P.G.; his e-mail is Rick.Wooten@ncmail.net. He is located in the Swannanoa, North Carolina office (western North Carolina) and can be reached by telephone at 828.296.4500. His mailing address is: 2090 U. S. Highway 70, Swannanoa, North Carolina 28778. An alternate North Carolina Survey staff geologist contact is Dr. Jeff Reid, P.G., 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699-1612. His telephone number is 919.733.2423 x403. His e-mail is Jeff.Reid@ncmail.net.

	Watauga Co. — White Laurel subdivision — This image of debris flow-related problems was taken at the White Laurel subdivision located near Boone. This slope movement appears to be related to an embankment failure. One home was destroyed, and eight condemned for occupancy. This image was taken September 9, 2004, by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist.
	Watauga Co. — White Laurel subdivision — This image of debris flow-related problems was taken at the White Laurel subdivision located near Boone. This slope movement appears to be related to an embankment failure. One home was destroyed, and eight condemned for occupancy. This image was taken September 9, 2004, by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist.
	Watauga Co. — White Laurel subdivision — This image of debris flow-related problems was taken at the White Laurel subdivision located near Boone. This slope movement appears to be related to an embankment failure. One home was destroyed, and eight condemned for occupancy. This image was taken September 9, 2004, by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist.
	Watauga Co. — White Laurel subdivision — This image of debris flow-related problems was taken at the White Laurel subdivision located near Boone. This appears to have been an embankment failure. One home was destroyed, and eight condemned for occupancy — possibly more. This image shows the exposed foundation of one home. This image was taken September 9, 2004, by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist.
	Henderson Co. — Bear Creek subdivision — Image of subsiding roadway taken on September 9, 2004, by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist. This location is above the main debris flow scar (bottom left). Scarps indicate areas that have already dropped down; with time tension cracks in the pavement will likely become scarps. Water will infiltrate the scarps and tension cracks and further destabilize the road and fill material. View looking up the road.
	Henderson Co. — Bear Creek subdivision — View looking downslope along the debris flow (mudslide) track. The track is about 400 feet long. Edge of pavement is visible at the bottom of the image. Red arrows show the location of a house just to the left of the track. Image taken September 9, 2004, by a North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist.
	I40 debris flow — This debris flow temporarily closed I-40. Rainfall from Hurricane Frances triggered the debris flow in the early morning hours of September 8, 2004, by a North Carolina Survey staff geologist. The debris flow is located near the Eastern Continental Divide just west of Asheville near the top of the Old Fort grade. The debris flow crossed the westbound lane and the median, and temporarily blocked the eastbound lanes. It appears to have originated in colluvium near the top of the scarp. Water was flowing from discrete places near the top of the scarp when this image was taken on September 8. Pipes visible in the lower part of the scar are probably drain pipes (horizontal drains?) from previous attempts to stabilize the slope.
	Jackson County, NC— This slope movement occurred on NC281 south of Cullowhee, NC as a result of Hurricane Frances. Image courtesy of Eric C. Reid.
	Jackson County, NC— This slope movement occurred on NC281 south of Cullowhee, NC as a result of Hurricane Frances. Image courtesy of Eric C. Reid.
	Jackson County, NC— This slope movement occurred on NC281 south of Cullowhee, NC as a result of Hurricane Frances. Image courtesy of Eric C. Reid.
	Blue Ridge Parkway, NC — Sections are closed after rains from Hurricane Frances caused the roadway to give away in four places between Mount Mitchell and Linville Falls. This image taken September 15, 2004, shows the landslide scar at Milepost 348. See series of images below that provide details of Blue Ridge Parkway damage from landslides triggered by Hurricane Frances.
	Blue Ridge Parkway, NC — Sections are closed after rains from Hurricane Frances caused the roadway to give away in four places between Mount Mitchell and Linville Falls. The area in this image is near Milepost 348. Damage to the parkway is estimated to be $11 million. Some sections of the road could be closed for a year. The Blue Ridge Parkway is closed in the following locations as of September 15, 2004, at: From Milepost 317 near Linville Falls to Milepost 325 near Bear Den Mountain Road; From Milepost 344 at NC80 near Marion to Milepost 355 at Mount Mitchell State Park (the state park remains open and is accessible via Asheville); and From Milepost 412 at US276 south of Mount Pisgah to Milepost 443 at US23/74 near Wayneville, NC.
	Blue Ridge Parkway, NC — View from near Milepost 348. This image, the preceding image, and the three images immediately below are courtesy of the Asheville Citizen-Times on-line edition of September 15, 2004.
	Blue Ridge Parkway, NC — View from near Milepost 348.
	Blue Ridge Parkway, NC — View from near Milepost 348.
	Blue Ridge Parkway, NC — View from near Mount Mitchell State Park and NC80.
	North Fork of the Catawba River near Linville Falls — Landslide damage adjacent to residential structure. Image by North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist on September 15, 2004.
	North Fork of the Catawba River near Linville Falls — Landslide damage adjacent to residential structure. Image by North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist on September 15, 2004.
	Henderson County, NC — Oversteepened slope in head scarp of embankment failure threatens home. Image by North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist on September 9, 2004.
	Henderson County, NC — Oversteepened slope in head scarp of embankment failure threatens home. Not visible is 5 gallon per minute water flow at the soil bedrock contact. Image by North Carolina Geological Survey staff geologist on September 9, 2004.

For additional information

The contact for additional information about geologic hazards in North Carolina is Mr. Richard Wooten, P.G.; His e-mail is Rick.Wooten@ncmail.net. He is located in the Swannanoa, North Carolina office (western North Carolina) and can be reached by telephone at 828.296.4500. His mailing address is: 2090 U. S. Highway 70, Swannanoa, North Carolina 28778. An alternate North Carolina Survey staff geologist contact is Dr. Jeff Reid, P.G., 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699-1612. His telephone number is 919.733.2423 x403. His e-mail is Jeff.Reid@ncmail.net.