Asheville‘s historic Biltmore Village, situated in western North Carolina, is now submerged due to severe flooding after Hurricane Helene hit the state. The village, known for its arts scene and unique ownership, is located where the Swannanoa River joins the French Broad River.
In Asheville, home to approximately 94,000 residents, floodwaters have risen several feet, covering street signs and inundating buildings and small businesses after heavy rain, strong winds, and mudslides.
Asheville also faced widespread cellular service outages, with no estimated time for restoration.
A curfew was imposed by Asheville police from 7:30 pm Friday to 7:30 am Saturday for public safety, effective until further notice. Transit services in the village were suspended, and residents were advised to boil water due to a major water line break and possible water shortages or low pressure.
Biltmore Village was designed to look like a small English village and had the region’s first railroad station. It served as an entrance to George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate and aimed to be a self-sustaining community. From its inception, it was called a “model village” and “A Millionaire’s Village.”
An eyewitness told NBC News, “We knew the flooding was coming, but we didn’t know it was going to be this catastrophic.”
The North Carolina Department of Transportation said that most routes into Asheville and throughout the mountains were affected. According to the Department of Transportation, over 400 roads have been closed, hindering travel and rescue efforts, which are ongoing. The state transportation department also warned on social media, “All roads in Western North Carolina should be considered closed.”
Many gas stations in North Carolina closed early Saturday due to power outages, while those that remained open saw long lines. Over 700,000 power customers across North Carolina lost electricity, including 160,000 in Buncombe County. Major highways, including Interstates 40 and 26, were blocked at multiple locations.
Governor Roy Cooper’s office confirmed that more than 200 people have been rescued from floodwaters across North Carolina.
President Joe Biden has approved emergency declarations for several states, including Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Biden has deployed over 1,500 federal personnel to assist with search and rescue, medical needs, and power restoration in the affected areas.
The storm reached Georgia on Thursday night, causing widespread damage throughout the southern US. Over 64 fatalities have been reported as a result of Hurricane Helene, according to an AP report.