Podcast episode: Checking in on the N.C. mountains
Podcast episode: Checking in on the N.C. mountains
Plus: Over 100,000 homes sustained damage; Popular 11 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway reopens; Counties establish grants for small businesses; Black Mountain Police releases storm body camera footage
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It’s been six weeks since Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc and devastation on Western North Carolina. What has that been like, and where does the region go from here?
In a change of pace, we’re stepping back and examining those questions in a 25-minute podcast episode.
This week, I sat down with Ledger editor Tony Mecia on The Charlotte Ledger Podcast to share my perspective on Western North Carolina’s current state and my experiences growing up in the mountains and watching Helene destroy my hometown of Swannanoa.
In this episode, I also share what my friends and family have described in the aftermath, the long-term outlook for the region and how I put together the Mountain Updates newsletter. You can listen to the full episode here, or wherever you listen to podcasts (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.).
I hope this newsletter has been helpful in keeping up with the recovery in the N.C. mountains. Thank you for reading it each week.
Now, let’s see what’s new with Western North Carolina since Tuesday’s edition:
More than 200,000 people displaced: Hurricane Helene damaged over 100,000 homes and displaced an estimated 200,000 people across North Carolina. Efforts to assist are underway, including temporary housing provided by nonprofits and community groups, but a housing crisis exacerbated by the storm has left many still struggling to rebuild. (WLOS)
NCDOT estimates reopening I-40 in Haywood County: The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to reopen both lanes of I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge by New Year's Day. The eastbound lanes were washed away, and stabilization work is underway to secure the westbound lanes. One lane in each direction will be open over a 9-mile stretch with a speed limit of 40 mph. Long-term reconstruction plans are still in development, with no set timeline yet. (WLOS)
11-mile section of Blue Ridge Parkway reopens: An 11-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, between US 70 and Route 191 near the North Carolina Arboretum, reopened on Wednesday. (WLOS)
Free vehicle repair: Many vehicles were damaged in the flooding. Local nonprofit Working Wheels is repairing vehicles for relief organizations for free and working to find reliable cars for families who lost their vehicles in the storm, the Asheville Citizen Times reported.
Brevard issues temporary authorization on trailer repairs: Brevard’s City Council approved a "temporary repair authorization" for residents of Duck’s Drive mobile home park, allowing them to make basic repairs to their flood-damaged homes before raising them to meet federal flood regulations. The authorization is aimed at ensuring habitability while complying with FEMA rules, with a deadline for compliance set within a year. (Blue Ridge Public Radio)
Miracle staircase at Catawba Falls: The Catawba Falls trail in Old Fort, McDowell County, remains closed thanks to a dozen landslides, but the newly built staircase leading to the falls miraculously survived. The trail had been closed for almost two years while the staircase was being built and recently reopened in May. Now, the trail is closed again for at least the next few months. (WLOS)
Counties support their small businesses
Several counties have established grants to support local small businesses struggling to stay afloat in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
In Haywood County, The Haywood Advancement Foundation is offering grants of up to $25,000 to small businesses with 25 or fewer employees, aiming to assist with recovery and rebuilding efforts, WLOS reported.
The grants, supported by the Tourism Development Authority, are expected to provide the cash many businesses urgently need.
Similarly, Explore Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority have established the "Always Asheville" Fund, offering grants of $5,000-$10,000 to help keep independent businesses afloat, WLOS reported.
With as much as 20-30% of the local workforce displaced, the fund aims to boost customer traffic and ensure the longevity of businesses vital to the area's economy, which saw $3B in visitor spending last year, said Explore Asheville President and CEO Vic Isley.
“They need customers walking through their front doors to help sustain jobs for our neighbors and the fabric of our community,” Isley said.
WATCH: Black Mountain Police Department releases hurricane video with body camera footage
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Lindsey Banks, a native of the Buncombe County town of Swannanoa, is a staff reporter with The Charlotte Ledger. Reach her at lindsey@cltledger.com.
How to help
Many organizations have deployed groups across the region, tasked with distributing food, water and supplies. You can donate to their efforts at the links below.
Hearts with Hands, a local disaster relief organization, has a donation page to provide food, supplies and water.
United Way of North Carolina has established a fund to help residents affected by the flooding.
MANNA Foodbank, which serves 16 counties in Western North Carolina, is accepting food, supplies and monetary donations. The organization’s warehouse on Swannanoa River Road in Asheville was damaged by the hurricane.
The American Red Cross is accepting donations to help residents in the Southeast.
Samaritan’s Purse, which is headquartered in Boone, is scheduling volunteers to help with debris cleanup.
Operation Blessing has a donation page to provide food, supplies and water.
E4E Relief, a Charlotte-headquartered provider of emergency financial relief programs on behalf of corporations, is accepting donations for their newly established Hurricane Helene Community Fund, offering financial support to individuals with long-term impacts from Hurricane Helene.
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman