Field guide · recovery
After Helene: a region that's open, and recovering
Hurricane Helene reshaped parts of these mountains in 2024. Western NC is open for visitors — and showing up is one of the most useful things you can do.
Where things stand
In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic flooding to Western North Carolina — the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, Asheville's River Arts District, and towns like Chimney Rock, Swannanoa, and Spruce Pine were hit hard, and rebuilding is ongoing. But the region as a whole is open: Asheville, the Parkway corridor, the Smokies gateways, and the great majority of restaurants, breweries, venues, and trails are welcoming visitors.
The most useful thing you can do is show up
Tourism is the economic engine of these mountains, and small businesses lost a brutal season. Booking a room, buying a flight of beer, catching a show, eating at the locally-owned place — that's recovery money, spent directly. If you were thinking of coming, come. If you're local, keep choosing the independent spots.
Check conditions, give wisely
A few roads and trails remain closed or rerouted, so check before you drive a back way: NCDOT's DriveNC.gov maps current road conditions and closures statewide. If you want to give, favor established local funds and vetted relief organizations over ad-hoc appeals, and confirm any organization before donating.
Conditions are still changing in the hardest-hit areas — verify road status at DriveNC.gov and check directly with any business or trail before you go.