Helene Recovery Efforts: Asheville Area Travel and Safety Updates

Communities in Western North Carolina, including ours, are recovering after the devastating floods and aftermath of Hurricane Helene. While our downtown, lodging, and much of our hospitality infrastructure fared well, most areas are still without power and water service, and early stages of recovery are ongoing in parts of our beloved community.

The Asheville Regional Airport is open and operating, and critical highways like I-40 East and I-26 are now accessible, making it easier to mobilize support. Right now, the focus is on taking care of our residents and workers and servicing the many first responders who have answered the call from all over the country—helping those impacted and addressing the economic and emotional toll at hand. 

People have always been drawn to Asheville and the mountains of Western North Carolina. We know many of you care deeply and want to support our community. It’s not just about what’s happening now, but about planning for the months and years ahead. If you want to contribute, consider donating to local recovery efforts outlined below.

We’re seeing progress, slow as it may be. While travel may not be possible at the moment, please keep Asheville in your heart. When the time is right, we’ll be ready to welcome you back with open arms. Until then, thank you for your love and support as we rebuild.

Always, Asheville

• Resources
• How to Help
• Closures
• Assistance for Individual Property and Businesses

Resources for the Community

City of Asheville Info and Updates

Quick Guide to Finding Essential Supplies (Updated Oct. 8)

Love Asheville From Afar: Partner Signup Form

Buncombe County Info and Updates

Helene Missing Persons Form

North Carolina Info and Updates

NCDOT Road Closure Map

Duke Energy Power Outage Map

Waze Map of Road Closures

Open-source Community Resource Document

Small Business Support Info Session: Financial Recovery (Oct. 10)

• The City of Asheville has food and water distribution points, including both potable and non-potable water, set up across the city. More info here.
• ​World Central Kitchen has arrived in Asheville and will begin serving meals 9/30 at noon at Bears Smokehouse on Coxe Ave. More info here.
• Water and MRE Distribution Sites became available in Buncombe County starting at 2 p.m. Monday 9/30. More info here.
• Some Asheville restaurants are serving food as supplies last. We are updating our Instagram stories and Facebook stories with that information as it comes through.
• Public officials are holding news briefings each day at 11 a.m. The briefings are streamed live on the Buncombe County Facebook Page and broadcasted on Blue Ridge Public Radio 88.1 FM. You can also listen on the iHeart radio stations including 99.9, 104.3, 105.1, 105.9, 96.5, 98.1, 105.5 and 97.3 (Spanish) and 570 AM.

​How to Help

Here are some links for those looking to lend their support:

• Donate directly to The Salvation Army of Asheville, MANNA FoodBank and United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. 

• BeLoved Asheville is accepting donations at 32 Old Charlotte Hwy, Asheville, NC 28803, and requesting these items: Food, bottled water, contractor-size trash bags, blankets, first aid supplies, feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby clothes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, paper towels, bleach, shovelspopulationsgloves, coolers, propane, cook stoves, flashlights, batteries, fans, dehumidifiers, and generators. Volunteers, specifically truck owners, are needed to help deliver supplies.

• The City of Asheville is opening a new donation drop-off site at Harrah’s Cherokee Center for individuals and groups wanting to help during this crisis. The site can accept small donations including water, nonperishable food, personal care items, infant care, pet food supplies, disposable plates and utensils, clothing and cleaning supplies. However, it cannot accept anything requiring refrigeration or flammable liquids. Donation Drop-off Site: Harrah’s Cherokee Center 87 Haywood Street, at the front door / Operation Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., 7 days a week

• The Equal Plates Project is seeking donations and volunteers to prepare and deliver 1,000+ locally sourced meals to public housing and underserved populations daily. Click here to find out how you can help.

• To donate items in bulk, please email helenedonations@buncombecounty.org. 

• To volunteer, please email helenevolunteers@buncombecounty.org. 

Closures

Please check attraction and business websites and social media channels for the most up-to-date information.

• Blue Ridge Parkway: Closed. Specific information and updates on closed sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway is available here.
• Biltmore Estate: Temporarily closed until October 15. More info here.
• Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests have closed campgrounds, roads and recreation areas. More info here.
• Mount Mitchell State Park and Gorges State Park have been closed by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. More info here. 
• Grandfather Mountain: Temporarily closed. More info here.
• Click here for all North Carolina State Park closures.
• All City of Asheville city parks, community centers, and public facilities are closed.
• All Buncombe County parks are closed.

Love Asheville From Afar Initiative

In response to the significant impact of Hurricane Helene, Explore Asheville is launching the Love Asheville From Afar initiative in partnership with the Asheville Downtown Association, Go Local Asheville, ArtsAVL, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, and JD Ellison and Company. This project is designed to help Buncombe County businesses connect with supporters by creating a centralized space where people near and far can easily find local businesses’ e-commerce platforms and direct donation options—such as GoFundMe pages—making it easier for everyone to show support during this challenging time.

If your business has an online retail presence or a direct donation platform, we want to include it on this dedicated webpage so that customers and supporters have one easy place to shop, browse, and donate. Even if you don’t currently have an e-commerce option, we encourage you to fill out the form with any future plans or barriers so that we can explore ways to help.

Assistance for Individual Property and Businesses

On September 29, FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of North Carolina, including Buncombe County, to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Helene. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals, including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.  

• FEMA Disaster Assistance for Individuals and Businesses: Grants for temporary housing, home repairs, and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. Register online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621- 3362, or by using the FEMA App.

US Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance: Loans for homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofits affected by the disaster. This includes:

• Home Disaster Loans: Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.
• Business Physical Disaster Loans: Loans to businesses for repairing or replacing disaster-damaged property, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery, and equipment. Businesses of any size and private, non-profit organizations are eligible.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Working capital loans available to help small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, aquaculture businesses, and non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their financial obligations during a disaster recovery period.
• Mountain BizWorks: The WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund offers rapid relief loans up to $100,000 with 1% interest to small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. Administered by Mountain BizWorks and supported by The Golden LEAF Foundation and other partners, this fund bridges the gap between the disaster’s impact and the arrival of federal aid, insurance payouts, or business recovery.

The SBA has opened a small business assistance center at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce (36 Montford Ave). The center is focused on providing disaster relief in the form of low-interest loans for businesses, nonprofits, homeowners, and renters impacted by the storm. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Assistance for Employees

• NC Works Disaster Unemployment (DUA): Temporary payments for people whose employment has been impacted as a direct result of a disaster.
• Assistance for Food Service Employees: Giving Kitchen and Southern Smoke Foundation offer assistance for food and beverage workers.
• Assistance for members of the Meetings/Hospitality Industry: The Meetings Industry Fund and SEARCH FOUNDATION offers grants to those in need of financial assistance. 
• The NC Hospitality Workers Relief Fund, managed by the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA) foundation, the fund supports hospitality employees affected by Hurricane Helene. Any employee of a North Carolina restaurant, hotel, tavern, or other hospitality-related businesses can apply for financial assistance if they are experiencing hardship due to Hurricane Helene.

Assistance for Artists & Arts Organizations

• Arts AVL has created a webpage of emergency support resources, including relief grants for artists, musicians, and cultural institutions, as well as pro bono legal support.
• Arts North Carolina has created a disaster relief fund and is asking artists to fill out a creative needs assessment form.
• MusiCares provides financial assistance to music industry professionals in geographic areas impacted by natural disasters. 
• NCAPER Rapid Damage Assessment Forms: If you were impacted, or know artists and cultural institutions impacted for a disaster, please fill out one of the following rapid damage assessment forms.
• Cultural Institutions: Rapid Damage Assessment Form
• Arts Organizations: Rapid Damage Assessment Form
• Individual Artists and Performing Groups: Rapid Damage Assessment Form
• More NCAPER Resources>>

This story will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.