Lake Lure begins refilling after Hurricane Helene causes catastrophic damage in North Carolina

FILE: Lake Lure betterment underway 9 months aft Hurricane Helene

In North Carolina, Lake Lure became the tract of thousands of pounds of debris and sediment washed successful from Hurricane Helene successful September. Since the storm, the water has been drained and treasure has been found. Lake Lure Mayor Carol C. Pritchett joins FOX Weather to speech astir the betterment process. 

LAKE LURE, N.C.– A beloved water successful the mountains of occidental North Carolina that suffered important harm during Hurricane Helene successful September 2024 has started being refilled.

Hurricane Helene swept done North Carolina successful September 2024, leaving extended harm crossed the portion arsenic dense rain caused catastrophic mudslides and flooding done the mountains.

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Entire towns were decimated by the hurricane, and Lake Lure was filled with thousands of pounds of debris and sediment.

The remnants of a location are seen successful Lake Lure, North Carolina, October 2, 2024, aft the transition of Hurricane Helene.

(ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Part of the cleanup efforts from Helene's harm progressive draining Lake Lure. The task started successful June 2025 and the astir 800-acre reservoir was astir wholly drained, revealing decades of treasures astatine the bottommost of the lake.

During the draining process, Jake Mohl, proprietor of Lake Lure Dock Company, who was moving connected draining the lake, said: "This is the archetypal clip the water has been this debased since it was archetypal filled astir a period ago."

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Now, respective months aft draining the lake, municipality officials are moving to refill the water erstwhile again.

The Town of Lake Lure said connected Friday that it had begun filling the water again, but the process volition beryllium dilatory to complete.

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The water tin lone beryllium filled by 1 ft per day, according to the town. The refilling is besides heavy babelike connected rainfall and weather conditions.

An update from the municipality successful precocious January said the water was 15 to 16 feet beneath afloat pond level.

TOPSHOT - A section constabulary car is seen fractional engulfed successful mud, successful a flooded country of Lake Lure, North Carolina, October 2, 2024, aft the transition of Hurricane Helene. The decease toll from almighty tempest Helene, which battered the southeastern United States, has climbed to astatine slightest 155, authorities said connected October 1, arsenic President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris prepared to survey the damage. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)

(Allison Joyce / AFP / Getty Images)

"Today is an highly important measurement guardant successful our recovery," Lake Lure Mayor Carol Pritchett said. "While we cannot yet corroborate precisely erstwhile the water volition instrumentality to afloat pond, this marks a large turning constituent for Lake Lure."

Lake Lure said the lake's levels were each mean pursuing broad h2o prime testing.

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"Thanks to the dedication of truthful many, we person witnessed advancement that galore believed was impossible," Pritchett said. "Our water — our namesake, our refuge and our economical lifeline — is coming backmost stronger than ever."

Lake Lure successful precocious January 2026. 

(Town of Lake Lure, NC/Facebook / FOX Weather)

The municipality attributed the lake's restoration to a collaborative effort betwixt local, authorities and national agencies, arsenic good arsenic backstage contractors.

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The municipality said it hopes to person Lake Lure wholly afloat by Memorial Day weekend.

"The refilling of Lake Lure is much than an operational milestone — it is simply a awesome of resilience, betterment and the spot of partnership," the Town of Lake Lure said successful a quality release. "The municipality looks guardant to welcoming residents, visitors and aboriginal generations backmost to a restored water that remains cardinal to the bosom of this community. Together we rise!"

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Lake Lure is known for its tourism, particularly successful the warmer months of the year. Families flock to the water to bask their summer holidays. 

The water is the fig 1 attraction for visitors to the area, according to the town's website.