Recovering from Helene

There has been lots of confusion about what’s open and what’s not since Helene.  Overall, 95% of Western North Carolina is open for business.  Luckily, most of us were not affected by Helene.  However, for those folks who lived or had businesses along rivers or small creeks, there was catastrophic damage.  In Asheville there was catastrophic damage to the Swannanoa River area, the Biltmore Village area, and the River Arts District.  Outside of those areas, most of Asheville was not drastically affected.  Although in the out-lying areas of Asheville, homes and businesses along creeks and rivers were drastically affected.  The towns in WNC lying along rivers were affected.  Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Bat Cave, Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Old Fort, Marion, Burnsville, Spruce Pine, Hot Springs, and Erwin, Tennessee were all severely affected.

The good news is these areas are being cleaned up and being rebuilt due to a herculean effort by many, many volunteers, churches, the Army & National Guard, FEMA, private contractors, local businesses and the residents of those areas affected.  This will take time, however.  Volunteers have traveled hundreds and thousands of miles to help.  People have donated time, effort and money to the clean-up.  Never have I witnessed such a coming together of volunteers to help others.

In closing, don’t be afraid to come here.  95% of our area is open for business and needs your business.

If you are travelling here from Tennesse, I-40 is still closed through the gorge.  The most efficient route is highway 441 from Gatlinburg through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The NC DOT hopes to have I-40 back open (single lanes only) by the first of January.  If you’re coming from the Bristol, TN area, use I-26 East to Asheville.  From Asheville, I-40 is open to the Waynesville, Maggie Valley area.

Please call if you have any questions.