Hurricane Helene devastates Asheville's thriving community

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—The city of Asheville has been experiencing significant growth over the past decade, attracting new residents with its scenic views, artistic community, and mild climate. The pandemic further accelerated this trend by enabling remote work. As a result, local businesses such as craft breweries and vintage stores thrived.

However, Hurricane Helene has severely disrupted Asheville's status as a desirable location. Floodwaters and heavy winds have devastated the arts district, historic Biltmore Village, and trapped residents in their homes. Nearly a week after the storm, there is still no running water and limited power.

Residents are uncertain about the future of the local economy. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), nearly half of small businesses do not reopen after a disaster.

Megan Parker and Erin Stefanacci inspected their Flow at Foundy yoga studio on Tuesday by crossing train tracks on foot. They found six inches of silt and debris from nearby shops throughout the area. "What do you try to save? Nothing is left," said Stefanacci.

Helene has caused at least 149 deaths across six Southeastern states. Western North Carolina alone accounts for more than 40 fatalities. Jonathan Porter from AccuWeather compared the scale of destruction to hurricanes Katrina and Harvey.

Jordan Moodie, gallery manager at Foundation Studios in the River Arts District, described the situation: "Heartbreaking doesn’t even describe it." The district is now filled with rubble instead of art pieces.

Flow at Foundy's clientele mainly consisted of young professionals who relocated during the pandemic. Megan Parker expressed concerns that these recent transplants might not return after evacuating.

Asheville had recently been recognized for various superlatives including best U.S. city for beer lovers and top-five retirement destination. This year saw significant economic growth with wages rising 7% and residential permits increasing by 66% in July compared to last year.

Tourism contributes significantly to local employment but has been hit hard by the hurricane. Many hotels and Airbnbs are closed due to damage.

The Biltmore estate remains shut with no timeline for reopening despite high demand for holiday season tours.

Small towns around Asheville have also faced extensive damage. Alfredo Ruiz and Sonia Rojas witnessed their neighbor’s house float away while riding out the storm in their beauty salon Corte & Cut.

Emma Allen's business Everyday Oil suffered substantial losses due to flood damage in her warehouse: “I’m really just coming to terms with how bad this is,” she said.

Jessica Munday drove from Charleston to check on her parents after losing contact during the storm: “I have never ever seen anything like what I saw,” she said upon witnessing widespread devastation firsthand.

Spencer Beals lost most of his artwork stored at Foundation Studios but managed to save one painting by kayaking back through eight feet of water: “There’s just a lot of crying," he said about fellow business owners facing similar losses.