We have always promoted safe and responsible travel to and experiences in our mountains and will continue those efforts as we move carefully through this unprecedented hurricane recovery effort. Many communities in our area have been devastated by floods and the hurricane. Within Asheville, many people lack water service and power and have only recently been able to access limited cell service and limited internet service. We are committed to providing accurate, up-to-date information on how the people of Asheville and Western North Carolina can find resources, how people outside the area can help with the recovery, and what's open in Asheville and Western NC. Our goal is to offer recommendations on how to safely experience everything our region has to offer.

Hurricane Helene: Updates for Asheville and Western NC

The residents of Asheville and Western NC have been deeply impacted. We are still coming to terms with both our collective experience and our unique, personal experiences and losses. Our local community is focused on taking care of each other and the thousands of first responders, utility workers, and other specialists who have traveled from around the country to help.

For now, we ask that you refrain from spontaneously traveling to our area. Instead, please use the resources below to determine which attractions and towns are safely welcoming visitors. We invite you to stay abreast of our recovery, find helpful information if you are local to our area, contribute to our recovery, join us in renewing our vibrant communities, and make responsible plans to visit us.

Travel Information Specific to Our Small Towns

This includes all of the small towns that we cover. Click on the links to find travel information for each town.

National Forests and Recreation Areas, and State Parks

Donate by Town or Area

Want to support a specific town or area that has been harmed by Helene?

Regional Donations

Regional Funding for Nonprofits

Resources for Locals

Disaster Assistance for Workers

  • NC Works Disaster Unemployment (DUA): Temporary payments for people whose employment has been impacted as a direct result of a disaster.

Seek Assistance for Homes, Property, and Businesses

  • 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

  • Home Disaster Loans: Loans to homeowners or renters.
  • Business Physical Disaster Loans: Loans to businesses of any size and private, non-profit organizations are eligible.
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): Working capital loans to help businesses, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations during a disaster recovery.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

For more general information related to travel by road in North Carolina, visit the NC Road Map.

Thank you for your support of our mountain communities! We will continue to feature our partners who offer visitors adventures in the outdoors, award-winning cuisine, a vibrant arts scene, and many memorable experiences and places to stay--and provide updated information on which locales and destinations are open.



 

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