Booming Southern City's arts district is obliterated by Hurricane Helene and left looking like an 'ocean'

A beloved arts district in North Carolina was destroyed by Hurricane Helene, leaving the entire area flooded and resembling an 'ocean'.

The River Arts District, located alongside the French Broad River in Asheville, was overwhelmed with water on Friday afternoon. 

As the category 4 hurricane touched down in Florida late Thursday night, it brought sustained winds of 140 mph. 

By Friday afternoon, the storm was downgraded to a tropical depression as it moved over the Carolinas with winds of 30 mph. 

But despite being downgraded, Helene continued to wreak devastation and cause massive flooding. 

According to the Citizen Times, the French Broad River reached 25 feet on Friday, breaking all previous records for its water level. 

Footage recorded by onlookers captured the devastating aftermath of the deluge caused by the overflowing river. 

In a video uploaded to X.com, Amber Lake documented the destruction of Asheville's adored art district. 

In the clip, pale brown water has flooded a major street. Trees and streetlamps stand deep in the murky water. 

A smokestack just out of the running stream. In the distance, the water appears to rise up to the mid-level of a building.

Throughout the video, lashing rain can be seen. In the background, a stiff wind blows. 

'Started recording right when the power went out on Riverside Drive,' Lake captioned the video.

She added: 'The wind gusts keep pushing me off balance too.'  

Another video, posted on X.com by the Citizen Times, further captured Hurricane Helene's brutal strength. 

In the clip, The French Broad River appears swollen with rain. Broken branches and other detritus bob in the water.

'The French Broad River flooded most of the River Arts District,' the video was captioned.  

Created from the bones of dilapidated industrial buildings, the arts district was a creative hub that represented decades-worth of work. 

'But on Friday afternoon,' The New York Times noted, 'the River Arts District looked more like an ocean.' 

Other footage taken in Asheville featured more signs of Helene's destruction. 

In one video, captured by ABC11, the torrential floods sweep away an entire house. 

In the harrowing clip, the home floats away on the rapid water, before ultimately appearing to crash into a tree.

In the comments section, viewers were quick to articulate their shock. 

'I have been through five hurricanes. I have never seen anything like this,' one man wrote. 

'Heartbreaking. Someone's home with all of their memories and dreams,' someone commented. 

Other users offered prayers: 'As someone who lived through Katrina, all I can say is pray for the residents. Property can be replaced. Lives cannot.'

Hurricane Helene charted a path of destruction across Florida and the southeastern United States on Friday, leaving 40 people dead in its wake. 

The National Hurricane Center later downgraded the storm to a tropical depression, observing that it was slowing down. 

Helene is expected to stall over the Tennessee Valley through the weekend. 

The storm has also climbed up into Illinois, where its remnants are expected to remain over the weekend.

In an official statement, Vice President Harris urged residents who were affected by the storm to heed local authorities. 

'The storm continues to be dangerous and deadly, and lives have been lost and the risk of flooding still remains high,' Harris said at the start of a campaign speech in Arizona.   

'So, I continue to urge everyone to please continue to follow guidance from your local officials until we get past this moment.'