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HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) – As parts of Florida begin to clean up from Hurricane Milton, western North Carolina is still coming to terms with the damage caused by Helene.

The storm destroyed a bridge in Henderson County that leads into the rural community of Bat Cave.

Officials said the destruction is disrupting recovery efforts in that area.

“This bridge is very, very vital to getting men equipment, materials, supplies, electricity, you name it, back into Bat Cave,” resident engineer Michael Patton said, adding he’s never had a clean up like this.

Residents are currently having to use a ladder and makeshift bridge to get in and out of the area.

While they’re making it work, the future is unknown.

“Rebuilding these little towns, Chimney Rock, Lake Lure and Bat Cave may be impossible. The landscape has changed forever,” resident Chelsea Hughes said.

Patton predicts the area won’t ever be the same in his lifetime.

“A lot of the homes, beautiful homes that were along this river are gone. And sadly, some with the people who lived in them,” Hughes said.

The plan is to replace the bridge entirely, but the North Carolina Department of Transportation said the temporary solution to safely get across the bridge should be finished in the next week or two.