The mystery of the Swannanoa Christmas truck
Plus: NCDOT suggests alternative routes for holiday travel; Estimated damage now $60B; 132,000 people report house damage; A 'Secret Santa' hands out $100 bills in Avery County
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A container truck overturned by Tropical Storm Helene has sat in the same place in Swannana for nearly three months, but recently, Swannanoa residents decided to dress it up for the holidays. (Photo courtesy of Rey Castillo Jr.)
After almost three months of staring at hurricane debris, folks in Swannanoa have decided to add some Christmas spirit to one particular over-turned container truck on the side of U.S. 70. The display’s originator — and power supplier — is a mystery.
It started as a strand of multi-color lights, strung on the underside of the truck, which was knocked over by Tropical Storm Helene’s floodwaters and hasn’t moved since. The display has grown to include a couple of spiral Christmas trees, a blow-up Christmas gnome and a few candy canes. The lights stay on 24/7.
In the Buncombe County area of Swannanoa — which isn’t a town or city so doesn’t have an elected group of officials to ask — the resounding question is: “Who is supposed to clean up all of this debris?”
Those driving to and from work, school and errands have had to look at the scattered reminders of Helene every day since Sept. 27, including clothes and toys caked in mud, mangled vehicles, uprooted trees and branches and scraps of wood, metal and other building materials. The crumbs of Helene’s devastation have been piled up on the sides of roads and the Swannanoa River bank for months.
This particular box truck, which the floodwaters left near Beacon Village in Swannanoa, has become sort of a landmark this holiday season. I called Buncombe County in hopes of learning who is responsible for removing the truck and other debris. (Is it the N.C. Department of Transportation? The property owners where the truck now sits? The truck’s original owner, who may not even know where it ended up? The county?) I also called Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa, a community advocacy organization, to see if they knew.
I didn’t get an answer. The box truck’s warden remains a mystery (for now).
The display’s creator, and whoever is supplying the power, is also unknown. Photographer Rey Castillo Jr., who has been capturing images of Helene’s aftermath for Facebook and took the above photo of the box truck, says nobody knows who started it. I tried calling a nearby business, and they theorized the display belongs to a woman whose house used to be behind the truck but was destroyed. They gave me a number to call, but the voicemail inbox wasn’t set up.
Just down the road in the parking lot of Athens Pizza, which is still closed, a massive evergreen tree has been decorated with 1,500 feet of lights by Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa. A Facebook post calls the tree “a beacon of hope for our community, and a sign to all those driving by on I-40 that Swannanoa's spirit is strong!”
For some, the decorated box truck represents the resilience of Swannanoa, but for others, its message is a little more humorous. It’s as if to say “Well, if someone isn’t going to come remove this truck, then we’re going to give people something to look at.” It’s meant to make you pause, smile, maybe laugh a little and appreciate your neighbors.
My mother, who has lived in the area her whole life and drives by the truck every day, told me that the day it’s hauled away will be a symbolic one. Not because people have grown attached to the Christmas display, but because it will be a big step in the area’s recovery.
When that truck vanishes, so will a little of the sadness. Finally, someone has come to clean up Helene’s mess.
Here are the latest updates coming out of Western North Carolina:
Expect more holiday traffic: If your route to holiday celebrations takes you through Western North Carolina, expect more traffic delays than usual. Motorists are advised to take I-26 to I-81 to travel to Tennessee. If you’re traveling to southern Tennessee, Georgia or Alabama, take U.S. Route 74 West. (Asheville Citizen Times)
$60B in damage: Updated state estimates place storm damage costs at nearly $60 billion, with significant increases in housing-related damages at $13.5 billion. Congressional leaders reached a deal to fund the government and allocate $100 billion for disaster relief, though specifics for North Carolina's Hurricane Helene recovery remain unclear. Over 2,500 businesses await federal Small Business Administration loan approval due to stalled funding. Recovery efforts hinge on Congress’ action to provide relief funds. (WRAL)
At least 73,700 homes damaged: The Federal Emergency Management Agency has verified 73,700 homes were damaged, but reports by homeowners suggest the number could be as high as 132,000. Thousands remain in temporary housing, and delays in federal aid pose challenges. The Office of State Budget and Management put out a 133-page report on the recovery last week. (Business NC)
Major bridge to reopen: A key bridge on U.S. 70 connecting Asheville and Swannanoa reopened this week after three months of repair work. NCDOT shared some video footage of the restoration on X/Twitter.
Asheville airport traffic down: Passenger traffic at Asheville Regional Airport fell by 53% in October 2024 compared with the same period in 2023. Flights operated at only 46% capacity, and one airline ended seasonal service early. Despite record growth earlier in the year, the airport is unlikely to surpass its 2023 passenger total of 2.2 million. (WFAE)
Housing market: A Banner Elk Realtor reports that demand for riverfront or creekside properties has evaporated, and many seasonal homeowners are seeking to sell damaged homes. For full-time residents, rebuilding is fraught with challenges, including unpermitted repairs and lingering mortgages on destroyed properties. (WFDD)
Rise in homelessness: Homelessness in Western North Carolina has surged, with preliminary data showing a 20% increase since 2023. High housing costs and low availability exacerbate the crisis, as many displaced residents face long-term recovery challenges. (NC Health News)
A Secret Santa brings hope to Avery County
A “Secret Santa” is spreading holiday cheer in Avery County, one of the areas hit hardest by Tropical Storm Helene. The businessman, who chose to remain anonymous, handed out $100 bills to those impacted by the storm, WBTV reported.
One recipient, Jamie Guinn, faced unimaginable loss after two mudslides destroyed his home, claiming the life of his wife, Melissa, and leaving him with severe injuries. Despite the tragedy, Guinn and his 8-year-old son survived. The Secret Santa gave Guinn what he called “Secret Santa Dollars,” part of the $100,000 he distributes annually to people facing hardship.
“I think when people go through tragedy, they can lose their house, all their belongings, but what they can’t lose is hope,” the anonymous Santa said. “And maybe, we can give a little hope.”
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This newsletter is the final Mountain Updates of 2024. Starting in 2025, we will publish the Mountain Updates newsletter as news warrants — which will be less frequent than our current weekly pace. The Charlotte Ledger remains committed to covering developments in the N.C. mountains as the area continues to recover, in this newsletter and in our flagship Charlotte Ledger newsletter.
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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