Death toll rises to nine; power, travel problems persist from storm persist.

Death toll rises to nine; power, travel problems persist from storm persist.

Article discussing the known impacts of Hurricane Ivan on WNC. The current death toll is 9. Four of those people were from Peeks Creek in Macon County. Power has been knocked out to thousands of homes, and roads are damaged to the point of stranding people. Part of I-40 between Asheville and Tennessee has washed out and will take months to repair. An official with the NCDOT says that the damage is widespread, and that damage to roads alone will surpass $10 million. Other flood related developments are printed here. People who were forced to evacuate Starnes Cove Road have been allowed to return to their homes. Progress Energy has made headway in restoring power to nearly 60,000 of their customers. Duke Power has restored service to over 100,000 of their customers. Around 2,000 people in Black Mountain remain without water. A FEMA center has been planned to open today in Woodfin. Senator Elizabeth Dole has returned to WNC to survey damage, and states that she will do everything she can to get money flowing into the region as fast as possible, but doesn't give a timeline for this to happen.

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