As Asheville and Western North Carolina continue the daunting task of recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, many are reminded of a similar period in the area’s history: the “Great Flood” of 1916, at the time described as one of the worst natural disasters in Western N.C.’s recorded history. That flood brought dozens of fatalities, wiped out many of the region’s roads, and destroyed railroad lines throughout Western N.C. How the region rebuilt after that early-20th-century devastation is a story of resilience not unlike the one resonating throughout Western N.C. today.
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The ‘Great Flood’ of WNC and its aftermath
Within a one-week period in July of 1916, two back-to-back hurricane events dumped more than 26 inches of rain over Western N.C. The French Broad River crested at 21 feet, flooding Asheville and leaving unprecedented destruction in its wake.
The devastation to Western N.C. from the Great Flood of 1916 was profound: More than 80 people reportedly died (although that number is thought to have been much higher); estimated losses topped $22 million (roughly $480 million in today’s dollars); fields of crops were flattened and the city’s power plant was destroyed; downtown Asheville (which was then located on the river and later relocated to its current location) and Biltmore Village sustained crippling flooding, which halted businesses as well as a nascent artistic renewal in the region; and industries, most notably rail, were decimated.
It wasn’t just Asheville that sustained massive damage; the small surrounding towns of Western N.C. suffered immensely. For instance, Marshall saw scores of homes washed away; reports stated that after the Great Flood, all that was left standing was the courthouse. Bat Cave and Chimney Rock were also decimated.
In addition to these staggering losses, the Southern Railroad, which at the time was the region’s connection to the outside world, was destroyed, cutting off access to necessities from the outside world. This was devastating to the region, since flooding and landslides had destroyed crops, dry goods and other things necessary to daily life.
This is when the region’s resiliency began to build. The focus quickly turned to fixing the damage to the railways; a major effort was made to repair and reopen important rail lines like the Saluda and Old Fort railroad grades. The undertaking was Herculean: Workers encountered continued mudslides, oversaturated grounds, extremely deep layers of debris, and entirely washed away tracks. But the effort persisted. It is reported that in Mill Creek Valley, workers were able to get tracks that were entirely washed away or buried back in working order within a week. Similar stories of determination were the hallmark of that post-flood period.
After the Great Flood, Western N.C. moved to reevaluate a number of things, urban planning, economic diversification and historical preservation. Perhaps the most striking outcome from this tragedy was the emergence of a culture of community resilience, mobilization and support – a culture that today is the hallmark of Western N.C. and one that has shone in the most powerful ways in Helene’s wake.
Western N.C. in a post-Helene world
By now, the country and the world are well aware of the devastation Hurricane Helene has wreaked on Asheville and Western N.C. The French Broad River crested at 24.67 feet Asheville, doing what no one expected and topping the Great Flood record. The storm’s flooding left scores dead, hundreds missing, and thousands without power, water and cell service in its aftermath. Whole towns and neighborhoods have been wiped out.
But even as the storm left a path of unfathomable destruction in its wake, it has not destroyed the indomitable spirit of community in Western N.C. Hundreds of residents and businesses, including Mosaic Realty, have banded together to help their communities – neighborhoods are brimming with stations supplying hot meals, drinking water, personal goods, portable bathrooms and showers to residents. Neighbors are helping neighbors, whether it’s chainsawing through massive downed trees or going door-to-door to perform wellness checks. The City of Asheville is working nonstop to get infrastructure back up and running in the face of this unprecedented natural disaster. Echoing the period following the Great Flood of 1916, Western N.C.'s spirit of community and resilience is serving as a guiding force for the region as it looks to build back smarter and stronger from Helene’s devastation.
For questions about what real estate in WNC is like after Hurricane Helene connect with us at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call anytime at 828.707.9556
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