Commercial Vehicle Accident Injury Attorneys in Asheville, NC

With a storm headed toward Western North Carolina, many residents may be remembering the destructive effects Tropical Storm Helene had on the region in late September.

The good news, according to the National Weather Service, is that while the storm will certainly sweep through Asheville and the WNC region, it will be nowhere near the scale of Helene.

Here's what meteorologists said.

Hazardous weather outlook in Asheville, WNC

A weather alert issued by the NWS at 2:10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, warned that a storm system is moving into the area with multiple rounds of showers and possible thunderstorms. Locally excessive rainfall from heavy showers moving over the same locations may result in isolated flooding.

While gusty winds are a possibility, these conditions are most likely after the storm has passed on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

More:Asheville-area water lead test results are in for 159 private homes: What to know

How much rain will Asheville, WNC get?

The NWS expects Asheville to see roughly 1.5 inches of rain from the storm, according to NWS Meteorologist Chris Horne. Amounts will vary across nearby areas, with potentially closer to 2.25-2.5 inches toward Skyland and Fletcher, and 2.5 inches near Fairview and Bat Cave.

"Across Buncombe County in general, there's going to be kind of a gradient," Horne said. "It's going to bring more in the South, like towards the airport and east toward Fairview area and Swannanoa, but less the further northwest you get in the county, like up toward Canto or Weaverville."

Will it flood in Asheville, WNC?

Luckily for WNC, no serious flooding is expected due to the incoming storm. Some isolated flooding is possible, as indicated by the hazardous weather outlook, but Horne said that river overflow shouldn't be an issue.

"There's certainly going to be some kind of concern about flooding of low-lying areas," Horne said. "Right now, our French Broad and Swannanoa river forecasts are for it to remain below flood stage. So, you know, there's going to be areas of high water, perhaps some drainage issues here and there, but you know, nowhere even near the magnitude of what happened two and a half months ago."

Will there be more landslides?

Landslides aren't an NWS area of expertise. However, Horne was able to say that, while the amount of rain the region will see isn't generally enough to cause concern, areas already weakened by Helene should be monitored.

"Any kind of heavy rain can disturb already-disturbed soil, even though the magnitude of rain is typically far less than what we would expect for any landslides that occur," Horne said. "But just off the top of my head, given the past history of all the numerous landslides, I bet you there's going to be a little more susceptibility for them to kind of move again."

There were over 2,000 landslides in the WNC region caused by Helene and the storm's predecessor rainfall event.

When will the storm end?

After tonight, Dec. 10, the hazardous weather outlook issued by the NWS will end. Any showers on Wednesday, Dec. 11, are forecast to occur mainly before 9 a.m., with some patchy fog before noon.

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected].

You’re reading Mountain Updates, a free pop-up newsletter from The Charlotte Ledger examining the crisis and recovery in the N.C. mountains. Ledger subscribers can add Mountain Updates on their “My Account” page.

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The Smoky Mountain Toy Run, which is an annual toy drive and motorcycle parade that started in 1981, was held last month to raise money and collect Christmas gifts for Asheville-based Eblen Charities’s Saint Nicholas Project. (Photo courtesy of Rey Castillo Jr.)

Last week, The Ledger shared a shopping guide to Western North Carolina businesses during this holiday season. (If you’re looking for unique gifts that double as support for the mountain economy, check it out here.)

There’s also the “Potters Market” happening Dec. 14 in Charlotte at the Park Expo and Conference Center. Handcrafted pottery from more than 30 Western North Carolina artists will be for sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sounds like the perfect place to shop for a gift and support local artists affected by the storm.

This season, I’ve also been thinking about the children who have been affected or displaced by Tropical Storm Helene. Hundreds of families lost so much, and this holiday might look different for many.

Christmas is just a few weeks away, so some initiatives have already closed their windows for donations, but I’ve rounded up a few ways you can still help families fill their kids’ stockings and provide gifts under the tree:

Here are the latest updates from Western North Carolina:

Lindsey Banks, a native of the Buncombe County town of Swannanoa, is a staff reporter with The Charlotte Ledger. Reach her at [email protected].

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.

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Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer about Hurricane Helene and the aftermath, particularly in Western North Carolina.

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After Helene’s rains struck, Thomas Whiteside and his grandson watched a creek near their Black Mountain house rise hundreds of feet in minutes. Had they waited to evacuate, they would have been trapped inside when water reached the windows.

Weeks later, Whiteside received a free, temporary shelter on his property from Cabins 4 Christ, a group created to help some of the many people made homeless by Helene. This past week, he received even more news: The group will rebuild his roof for him, free of charge.

In his 51 years of living in Black Mountain, Whiteside never expected a storm as bad as Helene, he said. He also didn’t expect the community’s response to the damage to be so strong.

“I’m 67 years old. I’ve been retired for 20 years, medically retired, and sometimes you just feel like you don’t get the help you need. But during this mess, honey, I’ve got more help than I can shake a stick at,” he said.

Helene’s floods and mudslides damaged at least 100,000 homes in Western North Carolina, according to a state count. As of this week, FEMA has committed over $52 million in displacement assistance and more than 5,300 families are currently checked into hotels.

The momentous task of repairing and rebuilding could take years as owners navigate government aid, securing insurance payouts, obtaining building permits and the rest.

Seeing this reality, many nonprofits stepped in to help, with everything from knocking on doors to offering free, immediate repairs to driving caravans of campers to hard-hit areas where displaced residents have been living in tents.

Devin Taylor is the founder of Campers Care, a disaster-relief ministry based in Virginia. He and his wife Julie started Cabins 4 Christ to provide temporary shelter in the wake of Helene’s devastation.

The group’s mini homes are 8 x 16 foot shed-like structures. They have no running water, no kitchen and no electricity, but come stocked with a composting toilet, storage space, supplies like water and a small cooking stove, a mattress and occasionally solar panels, Taylor said.

The sheds also have insulation and an extra layer of plywood to keep them warmer, he said, and both individuals and families continue to sleep in them as winter nears.

The group routinely checks on people given the cabins to ensure they have enough supplies including propane for cooking and heat, blankets and food.

“We don’t just give them something and say, ‘Here you go, sink or swim,’” Taylor said. “We actually have a team of people that go back out and check on their needs, especially the elderly this time of year.”

Whiteside was the first to receive a cabin from Cabins 4 Christ, but the group has homed 141 families or individuals in over 90 cabins built by the group and in donated campers and trailers it received, Taylor said.

The group usually draws around 100 to 125 volunteers a day to Camp Cedar Cliff outside Asheville to build the cabins, manage donations, and repair homes in the area, he said.

On Nov. 25, volunteers from across the country, some individuals and others whole families with children, worked on the grounds of the Christian-oriented camp’s welcome pavilion, which now looks more like a construction site than camp site.

People drove from Colorado to donate a camper and from Texas to help cook for volunteers. Some materials have been driven in from as far away as New Mexico, he said.

“Some stay a day or two, some stay longer,” Taylor said. “I’ve got people here that’ve been here since day one, from as far away as California, and sleeping in their cars.”

Each morning starts with a huddle where volunteers receive hot food and beverages before they get to work hammering, sorting donations, delivering cabins or traveling to nearby homes to make repairs.

Whiteside, whose home was too badly damaged to reoccupy, was connected to Cabins 4 Christ by his daughter, who suggested he reach out and ask for help.

He lived in his cabin for around a month before he received a Nomad camper trailer with a bathroom, furnace and bed gifted by another group in early November. He still likes to sleep in the cabin, in a recliner that helps his back pain.

The cabin is a “Godsend,” Whiteside said. It has allowed him to stay on his property and keep watch of his car and damaged home. Most importantly, it was a safe roof over his head.

Once his roof is repaired and his home is safe to move back into, his older sister who also lost her home to floods in Swannanoa will move in with him.

“The Lord is opening his doors, and the Lord’s inviting anybody to walk in who wants to, and Devin is standing there right now with him holding the door,” he said.

Helene’s destruction took down cell phone service across western North Carolina counties hit hard by the historic storm. Shortly after that, FEMA staff flew to Camp Cedar Cliff via helicopter and set up a temporary communications tower to help with rescue efforts, said camp director Tim Brady.

The portable tower trailer had a 40-foot tall extending antenna and was up for three days, he said.

After that, the camp hosted 200 Duke Energy lineworkers in cabins while they worked to restore power in hard-hit Asheville and the Swannanoa Valley.

The camp was damaged by the storm, Brady said, but surrounding areas were hit much worse, he eventually saw.

“The whole time I was thinking, ‘this is awful, we’ve been hit so hard. You know, what a story this is going to be to tell people how bad this was,’” he said. “When we finally got to the front gate and were able to get a vehicle out of camp, we realized we were blessed because of the loss of life right outside of our gate.”

A human resources director from Buncombe County Public Schools called Brady in mid-October, he said, and asked if the camp would be willing to host a new organization called Cabins 4 Christ. It needed a place to build cabins for 30 teachers.

From there, they just kept building.

As the need for emergency housing wanes, Cabins 4 Christ is pivoting to helping people repair and rebuild their permanent residences, Taylor said.

During Thanksgiving week, Cabins 4 Christ volunteers were dispatched not far down Old U.S. Highway 70 in Swannanoa to the home of a woman expected to give birth on Dec. 5.

One volunteer was Michael Barry-Rec, a builder from Virginia there to help Cabins 4 Christ for a week.

The homeowner was pregnant and stuck in the home when it flooded up to the window, Barry-Rec said. The group was hustling to have her house livable by the time the baby comes.

“The devastation breaks my heart, but the people that have risen and have come down to help offsets that despair. It really is something to be part of and witness,” he said.

But the work isn’t always easy or free of complications. Relying on donations means that construction materials may not be compliant with building codes and regulations. In one case volunteers couldn’t use donated insulation for a home that didn’t have insulation before Helene because it wasn’t the right grade.

With so much demand, it takes time to land needed inspections while trying to get people back into their homes as quickly as possible, especially because some families resorted living in tents after the storm.

One reason Cabins 4 Christ hasn’t installed electricity or plumbing in its sheds is because it would be too difficult to comply with state building codes, Taylor said.

“We build them the way that we do so that we could be good partners, not only with our ministry partners, but also good partners with our local government,” he said.

Despite so many challenges, it’s been inspiring to see the community come together and help each other amid tragedy, Brady said. He’s especially proud of religious groups.

“It’s too soon to say, ‘here’s the silver linings,’ because there’s no silver linings in clear view yet,” he said, yet: “Churches and the faith-based organizations like ourselves… have just shut down and said there’s nothing more important than meeting the needs of our community.”

This story was originally published December 4, 2024, 5:30 AM.

Follow more of our reporting on Helene in North Carolina

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December 10, 2024 6:00 AM

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If you are planning a festive day trip, then Christmas in Asheville, NC will check off all the boxes on your itinerary. Asheville, North Carolina offers a variety of things to do for the holidays, from Christmas lights to gingerbread houses, holiday shopping, parades, and more.

We’ve got a list of kid-friendly holiday events to do in Asheville, NC, and all the details you’ll need to plan your visit.

Christmas in Asheville, NC

Asheville is still recovering from the massive damage wrecked by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Many places are opening back, which means Christmas is a great time to support local businesses there and help them get back on their feet.

I never need much of a reason to visit Asheville. I love the view of the mountains in the background while walking around downtown. There is always live music by musicians outside and all the shops welcome you with a smile. There are a variety of different restaurants and historical landmarks to visit within walking distance or just a small drive away.

Plus, with the gorgeous backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, maybe you’re family will get a magical snowy adventure while you celebrate the holiday season in Asheville.

If you’re looking for Asheville, NC things to do, Christmas is one of the best times to find them!

Get in the holiday spirit by joining the Holiday Jamboree in Downtown Asheville. Everyone gathers together to welcome the beginning of the holiday season.

The Asheville Holiday JamboreeNovember 23rd, 2024 | 11 AM to 5 PMInstead of a parade this year, Asheville will host a Holiday Jamboree with music, a holiday market, and Santa photos.

The Grove Arcade Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony is the place to be the weekend after Thanksgiving. You can also explore the decorated Christmas trees throughout December at the Monte Vista Hotel.

While the National Gingerbread House Competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn is not happening for 2024, the Sugar & Spice Stroll is! The sugary houses will be on display at several local businesses, which you can see on this map.

Of course, one of the most popular places in Asheville to visit during the holidays is the Biltmore House. Known for its elegant displays of holiday decor, infamous Candlelight Tours, and a multitude of festivities, Christmas at the Biltmore is a must.

You’ll find over 55 Christmas trees throughout the grounds and a variety of activities for kids such as crafts and carriage rides. Nothing says Christmas like a magical carriage ride. They even have an entire greenhouse full of poinsettia plants and Antler Hill Village is illuminated with trees lined with lights.

Most of the restaurants offer a children’s menu, such as the Bistro (Farm-to-table fare), and Deerpark Restaurant (a southern-inspired buffet).

Winter Lights

When it comes to visiting Asheville for the holidays, you can’t leave without experiencing the Winter Lights at The NC Arboretum. This magical event features over half a million LED lights and walks you through stunning gardens and unique landscapes. This event is great for the entire family – there’s even have a hot cocoa shack.

Lake Julian Lights

The annual Lake Julian Festival of Lights is at Lake Julian Park and is a quicker drive-through light display that benefits the Buncombe County Special Olympics. Lights include animated and stationary light displays. Tickets are $10 – $50 per car/bus. Walk through lights are December 1st-2nd from 6-8 pm is $5/person. The drive through lights are December 3rd-23rd. Address is 406 Overlook Road Ext., Arden, NC 28704.

Does your family want to chop down your own tree this year? Asheville has a variety of tree farms!

The Boyd Mountain Christmas Tree Farm is known for its gorgeous rolling hills of Christmas trees. Trees are not the only things available at the farm, they also sell fresh wreaths, roping, and tree stand. It’s located at the foot of the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains near Maggie Valley and Lake Junaluska and you can even stay the night in one of their cabins (dogs are welcome as long as they’re on a leash).

Please check with the farm before you head out to make sure they are open and have trees available. Most are only open on select days.

Asheville, NC Christmas Fun: Extra 204 Holiday Events

If you’ve lived in the mountains of western North Carolina, you notice a pattern: Tell someone from outside the region where you’re from, and their immediate reaction is, “Oh, that’s a beautiful city/region/part of the state.” Do we get tired of hearing it? Maybe a little, but certainly not because it’s untrue — it is beautiful out here, and I for one feel spoiled around this time of year to have the fall colors on the mountains as part of my daily scenery.

In the past few weeks, you’ve probably seen some very not-beautiful pictures of Asheville and the surrounding area. Hurricane Helene dumped 40 trillion gallons of rain on the southeast. To me, 40 trillion isn’t much more than a huge, abstract number that one can compare to the volume of Lake Tahoe, or 619 days of water over Niagara Falls. Unfortunately, there are some pictures (such as the before-and-after of Chimney Rock, North Carolina) that show you what that amount of rainfall really does, in a more visceral sense.

We were unprepared for Helene, but in the way that we might have been unprepared for a meteor. There was a chance of a catastrophe, but such a small chance that it made no practical sense to worry about. Living in fear is not what mountain folk do, especially not when we can do something about it. And while there were some scary early days, when everyone was still realizing just how bad the storm was, it was amazing to witness that uncertainty evaporating almost overnight into a strong sense of community.

I even felt it myself. As soon as my needs were met, once I had enough water and supplies to last a week and a half, my anxiety immediately gave way to restless energy, and I started looking for ways to volunteer in the areas that needed the most hands. Whether I “wanted” to, I can’t even remember. It just felt important and necessary, because I could. Asheville’s River Arts District was one of those areas hit especially hard, and as someone with close friends and family who make art for a living, it simply seemed like common sense for me to go and lend a hand at Riverview Station.

I had an idea of what kind of mess to expect. I had seen aerial pictures of the floodwaters spilling into second-floor studios on social media, read posts about decades’ worth of the artists’ works destroyed by the surging French Broad. We knew in advance that it’d be dangerous as well; working in any flooded building comes with its own set of risks, even apart from the tons of toxic mud in a calf-deep layer all over the work site.

There were moments where I still got overwhelmed by the scale of the destruction. My first day at Riverview Station, I had been on-site hauling mud-soaked debris for nearly an hour before I realized our “work site” was the remains of a huge parking lot, broken up and washed away by the sheer weight and force of the floodwaters. It had never occurred to me until then that a parking lot itself could be destroyed in a flood.

That didn’t stop me, or the dozens of volunteers that also showed up to work in the muck, and unlike me, many of the most dedicated volunteers were still without running water. Living in Arden, I at least had a hot shower to go back to, but now I know how to decontaminate, change clothes, and follow basic HAZMAT procedures entirely without running water (the key is to pack lots of trash bags and wet wipes). For all of us, we were just motivated by the fact that there was something that needed to be done, unambiguous and plain to see. There were no questions of what had to be done or why, just the task in front of us.

If you’ve ever seen the famous graphite-clearing scene from HBO’s Chernobyl, it felt much the same: I knew that it was a disaster situation, that these were not “normal” circumstances, and I had accepted the certain risks that came with it. I had a job to do, a basic understanding of the situation, and I thought I was ready to work… until I actually stepped into one of the studios.

There was a moment, like my realization with the parking lot, where I saw the contaminated mud inches deep on the ground, coating every possible surface and object around, and the only thought I had for a moment was, “Where the hell do I start?” But, like with clearing radioactive graphite, clearing toxic salvage started for me the same way as I start any difficult and tedious job: with what’s right in front of me. I take a piece, move it out, come back, grab another. If it’s too heavy, someone else will come over to help — often without being asked — and help me pitch it (safely) out of the building. Rinse, repeat, as many times as it took until the job was done.

And finishing even a small job, clearing a room or mucking out a hallway, gave this amazing sense of gratification for everyone around; even the tiniest visible sign of progress made us cheer, however tired we sounded.

Because progress is progress, even a little bit at a time. Slowly, a disaster site starts to resemble a cleanup site, which starts to resemble a construction site, as we piece together our new normal, brick by brick. Rebuilding Asheville and the rest of western North Carolina will continue to be a lot of work in the weeks and months to come. But as far as we volunteers are concerned, the work is that much easier, because the beautiful place we call home is worth the effort.