When Tropical Storm Helene struck Western North Carolina in September 2024, it didn’t just damage homes — it devastated businesses and with it, the economy.
Eighteen months later, many are still mounting a comeback. Some have rebuilt stronger but others are barely holding on as they navigate the challenges of trying to recover while maintaining their culture and boosting tourism numbers back to what they were. The River Arts District, historic Biltmore Village and Chimney Rock are three of the many economic hubs in the region trying to bounce back even stronger than before.
This short documentary captures the resilience and reality of business recovery in those areas — the victories, the setbacks and the people refusing to give up.
This micro documentary is part of Caught in the Current: Helene Recovery in Asheville and Beyond a project that we have partnered on with the School of Journalism at Northeastern University. Their enterprising students took on the story of Asheville, North Carolina, a community still dealing with the devastation of Hurricane Helene, 18 months later. As part of our mentoring program, we’re amplifying their efforts by sharing the amazing work produced by their students. Visit the official interactive magazine for the project HERE.
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