Fall is in the air. The leaves are changing. Families from the CSRA and beyond would normally descend upon Western North Carolina to soak in the orange, red, and yellow leaves that beckon. A three-and-a-half-hour drive for a getaway to Asheville and surrounding towns might be an annual family plan this time of year.
Nothing is normal right now for our neighbors in the so-called Land of Sky region. While the CSRA is still in recovery mode from Hurricane Helene, parts of the scenic attractions in Western North Carolina are no longer there.
A few weeks ago, Helene devastated the region, destroying homes, wiping out businesses, and washing away roads. Many areas like Boone, Spruce Pine, and Asheville that would experience a surge of tourists this time of year are not only trying to rebuild and recover from the storm’s aftermath; they are now struggling due to the drop in visitors. It’s the epitome of adding insult to injury.
Tourism is big business, estimated at close to $2 billion, for Asheville and surrounding areas. The Biltmore Estate is the heart of fall and the upcoming holidays. The iconic estate had infrastructure damage, and the Biltmore Village was pretty much wiped out.
Amidst writing daily stories about CSRA recovery, ABD followed what was happening to our neighbors in Western North Carolina. A Facebook post from a friend, John Roper, who retired to Asheville two years ago caught our attention. As a warning, it is graphic, but describes the depth of destruction. This is his post from Wednesday, October 16.
“Keep prayers and money coming. Things opening up some. The infrastructure is really complicated and really screwed up. Water distribution is the most complex for restoration. Some pipes 40 feet deep with leaking joints have to be found/fixed/replaced.
Morgues and funeral homes are dealing with probably at least 1,000 that they could not embalm or cremate or, in the case of a few hundred, identify yet. Not everybody has been accounted for.
The outpouring of love and support from agencies, churches, businesses, and individuals has been massive. FEMA is here and we are happy to see the effort. It is slow because of its inherent logistic nature and the regulations within which it must operate. This is too overwhelming to try to explain in a post.
Our community finally got experimental water flow on Wednesday, October 16. You cannot drink the stuff, bathe in it, or let animals near it, but progress is being made.”
Roper is an attorney but now practices on a limited basis. His daughter, Hayley Wells is an attorney with Ward and Smith located in Asheville. She interned with Augusta law firm Kilpatrick and Townsend after graduating from law school at UGA and has family in Grovetown. Wells has a good understanding of CSRA destruction and appreciates the help from us to them.
“The need for our communities is overwhelming but it’s really heartwarming to see the love and help coming in from the CSRA and beyond, especially considering the damage there,” said Wells.
After Wells and her family lost power and cell service, it wasn’t until a few days later that they were able to get out and understand the magnitude of the devastation. Their local food bank was destroyed. She and her family helped with food and water distribution.
“Trailers of supplies showed up from Georgia and Tennessee, just all over. We spent 9 hours a day in parking lots across Western North Carolina and probably served about 1,000 people each day.”
When ABD caught up with Wells, her family was on their way back from delivering water and other much-needed supplies to another hard-hit area, Spruce Pine. She described it as a physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting experience but also uplifting in many ways.
“We were helping families who had lost everything, but each of them wanted to give back. One lady said I have an extra two dollars in my pocket. Please give it to someone who needs it more than I do.”
Its relief and grief rolled up into one, an extensive road to recovery for the CSRA and especially for Western North Carolina. Those communities depend on a flood of tourists between now and the end of the year. More than 22 inches of rain drowned the livelihood of many.
A large part of the WNC tourism industry lies in Asheville and the Biltmore Estate. Biltmore Village sustained catastrophic damage. The Biltmore on the other hand is moving forward with plans to reopen in the next couple of weeks.
A statement from Biltmore confirmed the timeline and a donation for recovery efforts.
“For more than 125 years, Biltmore has been a witness to the resilience of this community. The compassion and resolve of our region have been rising every day from beneath the weight of this storm. Thanks to the incredible work of so many generous people, recovery is happening all around us.
We are pleased to share that Biltmore plans to reopen and celebrate the joy of the holiday season together during #ChristmasatBiltmore, beginning November 2.
Welcoming guests back to the estate provides critical support to our community, and we hope to welcome you very soon.”
The Biltmore Estate and its family owners have also launched the Biltmore Relief Fund for WNC pledging $2 million in immediate localized Helene relief.
Many hotels in the area are still filled with displaced families, aid workers, and repair crews, but visitors are encouraged to at least make a day trip to support local shops, restaurants, and businesses.
How do you get there from here? The North Carolina Department of Transportation has a map that shows the best routes from surrounding areas.
After weeks of no water and no working HVAC system, Ward and Smith law offices opened temporarily on October 14, this week they will resume normal hours. Wells and other attorneys at the firm have been providing stories via their blog about the reopening of restaurants and other businesses.
“It will be an extensive road to recovery, but Western North Carolina mountain folks are tough. We will be back,” Wells said.
Editor’s Note:
Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia as Augusta’s Brad Means! If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.
