A North Carolina county pummeled by Hurricane Helene suffers another blow

Avery County in North Carolina suffered a setback over the weekend when rain washed away a dozen foot bridges that provided access to emergency services.

A small county in western North Carolina that has struggled to regain its balance after Hurricane Helene flattened the landscape suffered another blow on Sunday, when nearly a dozen foot bridges washed away, leaving some families without access to emergency services, officials said.

More than three inches of rain swept away the bridges built by volunteers after the Sept. 26 hurricane to provide emergency access for residents, said Avery County Manager Phillip Barrier.