Bob Evans SVP, Industry Relations | realtors.com
Hurricane Helene has resulted in at least 107 deaths across six states, with 30 fatalities occurring in the county that includes Asheville, NC, as reported by the Associated Press. The city of Asheville, home to 93,000 residents, has experienced severe flooding and landslides. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has warned that the death toll may increase.
Jessica Drye Turner from Texas recounted a tragic incident involving her family. "They are watching 18-wheelers and cars floating by," she wrote on Facebook. In a subsequent message, she revealed, "My parents and nephew drowned because the roof collapsed. My sister got wedged between something. She was rescued an hour later."
This story is one among many emerging as Asheville regains cell and internet service.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell plans to visit North Carolina on Monday. "It’s still very much an active search and rescue mission," Criswell stated.
Over 50 search teams are looking for stranded individuals throughout the region. Damage to roads and bridges in the mountains has made many areas inaccessible, and Asheville's water system has been severely damaged. Supplies are scheduled to be airlifted into Asheville on Monday.
Heavy rains from Hurricane Helene have caused record flooding in Asheville, NC. According to Moody’s Analytics, Helene likely caused between $15 billion to $26 billion in property damage across the United States.
Cassie Sheets from Insurify highlighted a common misconception about flood insurance: “Flood insurance is commonly misunderstood, and an Insurify survey found 13% of homeowners erroneously believe that their standard home insurance policy covers it.” Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute noted that less than 1% of Buncombe County residents carry flood insurance.
Sebastian Hov, CEO of 18 Insurance, commented on future implications: “Even before Helene, the North Carolina Rate Bureau had requested a 20.5% increase for homeowners insurance rates in Buncombe County... The severe flooding and damage caused by Helene will now likely reinforce the perception of Asheville as a high-risk area.”
Asheville's scenic setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains has long attracted outdoor enthusiasts and boasts a vibrant arts community known for its live music scene. It remains uncertain how many local establishments have been affected by Helene.
In real estate news prior to Helene, Asheville ranked No. 8 in the Wall Street Journal/Realtor.com Housing Market Ranking for luxury homes with a median price of $579,000 as of July.
AccuWeather's chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter described the situation: “The scale of this historic flooding disaster in the southern Appalachians cannot be understated.”
Efforts are underway to assist storm victims through donations to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund aimed at providing immediate needs such as food, water, cleaning supplies, and other emergency materials.
This story is developing.
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