North Carolina Heroes Honored: Lifesaving Actions on I-40 During Helene
By Marge | Published 2025-11-28T16:14:20.252+00:00
News
North Carolina -- November 28, 2025: The six honorees—five employees from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and one State Trooper—received the Governor's Award for Excellence, the state's highest honor for public service.
They were specifically recognized in the Safety and Heroism category for their actions on I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge during Helene.The Crisis on I-40The incident occurred on September 28, 2024, when heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Helene caused the Pigeon River to swell. This led to the severe erosion of the eastbound I-40 embankment in the Gorge.Chunks of the highway's shoulder and asphalt collapsed into the river.Numerous motorists were stranded as portions of the road disappeared, crea