Hurricane Helene One Year Later
It’s been a year since Hurricane Helene hit in 2024, the hurricane brought intense rain and destruction across 6 states. Western North Carolina was one of the worst-hit, with catastrophic flooding and landslides in the Blue Ridge mountains. Buncombe County (Asheville area) plus Henderson, Yancey, Madison, and nearby counties saw some of the most severe impacts.
We’ve been working across North Carolina’s coasts and mountains for over 10+ years so we’re comfortable with hurricanes and heavy storms, but Helene was different. We knew a hurricane was coming and had some of our guys put out sandbags in case of flooding. We had no idea in one night the entire office (including a large blue high-cube shipping container packed with equipment) would be washed away and swept down the Swannanoa River. Leaving only a concrete block behind. Thankfully everyone at on our Asheville team was safe, and even with no running water, electricity, wifi, and inconsistent cell service we were ready to help our community anyway possible.
When the only road in and out of High Rock Acres (off RT 9) became impassable from erosion and washouts (neighbors were being evacuated by helicopter) our Asheville crew mobilized. We cut and filled to create a single-lane temporary road so folks could reach RT 9 and Black Mountain again. We managed water to reconnect streams to culverts, salvaged culverts to push flow through swales, stabilized banks and swales, and removed dangerous rotten trees.
The neighborhood met our team with cheers and applause, something we’ll never forget. Closest we’ll ever come to feeling like rockstars, just doing what we know how to do: run equipment and fix what’s broken. On weekends, our crew also headed to downtown Mars Hill to help with cleanup. It was an all-hands effort across our company, with our Wilmington and OBX branches jumping in to support Asheville without hesitation.
The months after Hurricane Helene we were tested as a company. After seeing our office float away our team huddled up and got comfortable with being uncomfortable. For months, they worked out of a shipping container while we rebuilt and kept serving the community. The grit, loyalty, and work ethic that came out of this year have defined this team. We’re proud of that.
After months of operating out of a shipping container and helping neighbors rebuild, our Asheville team has moved into a new, larger office space. It gives us room to grow, train, and serve more projects across Western North Carolina. We’re excited for what’s next, showing up for our communities, and adding real value for customers in Asheville, Wilmington, and across the Carolina’s.
Do you need landscaping or outdoor construction in Asheville or greater North Carolina? Our crew is ready. Contact us today for a free estimate.