Heavy rains accompanying Hurricane Helene in September caused flooding that reached heights in Asheville, North Carolina that prior flooding hadn’t reached since 1902. In the aftermath, buildings, railroad cars, and trees lining the French Broad River in the town’s center were completely turned upside down.
As communities began cleanup efforts in the area, many expressed concerns that the debris left behind was producing a foul odor and speculated that it was contaminated with chemicals and other hazardous materials. Several steel manufacturers lie in the flood-prone region of Asheville, and many were concerned that Silver-Line Plastics, which manufactures PVC pipes, could have released solvents or vinyl chloride into the surrounding environment with the flood.
