Asheville's Biltmore Village faces a long road to recovery as residents band together

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Floodwaters have receded and much of the chaos has subsided, but it will be weeks, if not months, before the city's famous Biltmore Village regains prominence.

On Saturday, a nearby river was now blocked with garbage, mud, metal and dirt. There was no more shopping or eating out.

And the branches, logs and dumpsters that floated in the river last weekend are in the same spot.

In fact, many of the features that gave Biltmore its charm and prestige were washed away by flooding from Hurricane Helene.

As Gabriel Smith, 19, walked past a large truck lying face down in a puddle of brown water Saturday, he said he wanted life to go back to the way it was before.

“It’s pretty pathetic,” said Smith, who helped clean up the village. “I think we are all very tired and I think there is still a lot of work to do.”

It's been more than a week since Helene left her deadly mark at Biltmore.

The water level reached several meters and in some areas reached the top of street signs.

Rapid water poured over the front steps, flooding buildings and small businesses, while Asheville seemed to be nearly leveled by Helene.

A week later, downtown was filled with police officers monitoring long lines of traffic while construction crews cleared parking lots in the village, originally known for being conceived and financed by a single individual.

But Helene's scars remained.

A bent railway crossing appeared to be on the verge of collapse. Occasional fire engines raced past and helicopters flew overhead. Emotions ran high.

“It was chaotic and devastating, but the good thing about it is that I saw everyone come together, regardless of race, color or political affiliation,” said Asheville resident Renee White, 59.

She said the sight of the damage to the riverwalk, the arts district and Biltmore, as well as the loss of life and businesses, brought her to tears.

“We’re doing it, but it’s hard,” she said.

Some residents said they used the tragedy to lift up their community.

Asheville resident Kareem McDowell, 50, said there was a lot of panic, but once the panic subsided, the question arose: “What do we do next?”

“Everyone has been collaborating and working on this and we’re just trying to keep it going,” he said. “We have to look after each other.”