Rebuilding Biltmore Village in Asheville will require significant resources and community collaboration, according to a local business owner who spoke to Weather.com. The area is expected to sustain significant damage due to floods brought on by Hurricane Helene's aftermath. Cleaning, restoration, and infrastructure maintenance are urgently needed. To recover, the local administration, the business community, and the populace must cooperate.
Much of Asheville was submerged in the floods, obstructing access to North Carolina's biggest mountain metropolis. Many locals were still stranded as of Saturday due to damaged roads and power shortages. Authorities reported many deaths and continued worries for people who couldn't get in touch with loved ones. People were airlifted off the rooftops of flooded buildings as part of rescue attempts, the business owner said.
He continued by saying that historic structures like the old Biltmore post office are now threatened due to floods in Biltmore Village. A nearby company owner called it a once-in-a-century occurrence and characterized the impact as terrible. The scope of this catastrophe is unheard of, even in the case of prior floods. Several companies would find it difficult to reopen given the degree of loss and destruction.
In North Carolina, more than 400 highways were still impassable as the floodwaters gradually subsided. It was declared by Governor Roy Cooper that supplies were being transported into the impacted districts. Over 700,000 people in the state—160,000 of them are in Buncombe County—remain without energy while attempts to restore it continue.
Long lineups at gas stations were caused by power outages. There were wait periods of up to an hour at the few stations that were in functioning. Notable for art and tourism, Biltmore Village and the River Arts District were severely disrupted. Normally bustling with activity, these areas were eerily quiet after the storm.
From the aftermath of the hurricane, rescue stories surfaced. Janetta Barfield, a nurse, misjudged the level of the water and discovered her car was inundated. When a policeman saw her in danger, he came to her rescue. These instances demonstrate the danger that many people encountered during the storm.
In Tennessee, things became better as worries over the Nolichucky Dam subsided. The dam's structural integrity was affirmed by the Tennessee Valley Authority. To reduce further dangers, crews are controlling reservoir releases and keeping an eye on water levels.