It’s been nearly a month since Hurricane Helene tore through our beloved mountains. Our hearts go out to our neighbors throughout Western North Carolina who are facing unspeakable loss in the aftermath. Greybeard is a locally rooted company, and we felt the storm’s impact on a personal level. A bright spot in the wake of the storm has been our community banding together and getting to work.
Circumstances have been difficult, but the community aspect has been amazing to witness and be part of. There are thousands of stories of everyday heroes who stepped up during this shocking and life-changing situation, and we want to share just a few of them.
Our entire Greybeard team (Rentals and Realty) has spent the last few weeks providing essential items and spreading hope. From delivering truckloads of water and goods to communities like Swannanoa and Old Fort to mucking out families' homes that were flooded to clearing fallen trees and collecting logs to prepare much-needed firewood, we have all joined in and tried to help wherever we can. Efforts have even extended to Greybeard kiddos who got involved in organizing donations and making thank-you cards for emergency workers.
On the rentals side, our main goal through the month of October, in the aftermath of the storm, has been coordinating housing for displaced families, local business owners, and workers/volunteers traveling to this area to help with relief efforts. Many of our homes were spared from damage and deemed liveable (equipped with running water, heat, and electricity), and these have been used for residents in our region who need it most. Our decision to push tourism-related stays back until at least November was vital in caring for our community in desperate need.
Apart from our own team’s volunteer and relief efforts, we’ve been absolutely amazed at the kindness and generosity of our homeowners and vacation renters. One particularly compelling story involves a group of cousins all celebrating a 70th birthday at one of our rental homes in Montreat. After being evacuated from our rental along Flat Creek and staying at an area shelter, these ladies returned to our area to retrieve their car and belongings and came back with much-needed supplies (including five 5-gallon containers of gasoline which was in short supply at the time. They also donated their entire refund to a local family from Swannanoa who lost everything.
Another story involves a young couple who was stranded at one of our vacation properties between Black Mountain and Swannanoa. Our team was able to get them out safely and transport them to another vacation rental in town before their family drove up the next day to pick them up. This family then collected items from colleagues at UNC Health Patient Access in Chapel Hill and drove back here with a truckload of supplies a few days later. They are also in the process of organizing a Christmas drive for those in our area affected by the storm.
There have been several other renters who, in lieu of a refund, donated their money to folks directly impacted by the storm. A handful of our vacation rental homeowners even offered up their homes, free of charge, to those in need. One long-term homeowner graciously offered their home for 2 months free of charge to another displaced family from Swannanoa, and our Greybeard Rentals team has been furnishing it with beds, appliances, and other furniture.
These are just a few stories, but there are countless more. As people from near and far continue helping each other and providing resources to our region wherever they are needed, we embrace these bright moments of hope. We are proud of our resilient Appalachian identity, and we are stronger together. We will keep mending the broken parts, while still holding space for the immeasurable loss. This disaster has taken so much, but it has also undoubtedly strengthened our sense of community.
How Can We Support Asheville?
Outside of donating to on-the-ground and grassroots organizations that have been feeding and fighting for our community since day 1 (and even before), consider donating or buying gift cards to local businesses!
Not only are they losing revenue from one of the busiest months of the year for our region (October), but they are also repairing damages, replacing inventory that was destroyed, and trying to pay their employees who are also suffering on a personal level from this tragedy.
The local bookshops, restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, salons, cinemas, craft stores, art and music venues, and gift shops are what make this region the unique and creative hub it has been for decades. Supporting local has never been more paramount.
You can find a list of local organizations and fundraisers aiming to support small businesses and individuals that comprise our vibrant community here.
When Can We Return?
Many visitors have inquired about when they will be able to return to Asheville. As of October 22, Asheville and Black Mountain have been designated as safe to visit, using data from state safety and transportation departments, with a disclaimer to “plan ahead.”
Weaverville, Lake James, and some areas in Marion and Old Fort have also been cleared for safe travel. The Asheville Regional Airport is fully open and operational, and the Biltmore Estate plans to reopen on Saturday, November 2 with their annual Christmas at Biltmore celebration.
With these new developments in mind, we plan to welcome guests as soon as November 1 to homes not occupied by displaced families, after a month of pausing for the community. While the Asheville area is slowly but surely reopening in stages and sections, high-impact areas like Biltmore Village, Swannanoa, and parts of the River Arts District have a much longer road ahead and need ongoing resources, so travel to these areas is not advised.
We will continue to support our neighbors throughout Western North Carolina as we always have by volunteering, donating, and supporting in whatever ways we can. We hope these encouraging updates and stories will hearten those who love this city and offer some comfort during this unprecedented fall season.
While our community is making progress, planning ahead is vital for visitors. Find more travel information and guidelines on our Hurricane Helene Updates page.