Workers inside a plastics factory in Tennessee say they narrowly escaped after flooding from Hurricane Helene. The raging rainwaters swept 11 people away Friday.

At least 5 people have died in Eastern Tennessee from the floods that swept away homes and roads. Officials expect it to rise through the week.

Erwin, Tennessee is amongst the list of cities crippled by the effects of Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee. Photos and videos of the area taken before and after rising and swift floodwaters infiltrated this small town showcase the community's devastation The resulting images along with news of the floods pushed Erwin into the spotlight in the last week.

Here's a look at Tennessee and North Carolina communities affected by the storm, as captured by USA TODAY Network photojournalists.

Heavy rain and strong winds are expected in the Nashville area as the remnants of Hurricane Helene move inland, but the most significant danger will be concentrated to our east. Why it matters: "A fairly historic situation is about to unfold across the southern Appalachian region,

Heavy rain from Hurricane Helene has caused flooding in Sarasota and Fort Myers, Florida; Savannah and Augusta, Georgia; and Knoxville, Tennessee.

Across Eastern Tennessee, people are connecting on social media to help clear out ruined furniture, scrub off mud, and deliver jugs of water so people can flush toilets.

It's a new problem in an important election year. "We are confident that the challenges caused by the flooding will be overcome."