Asheville was a growing city: then came Storm Helen

The city of Asheville, North Carolina, is among the places that suffered widespread damage as a result of the passage of Storm Helen, which struck the southeastern United States last weekend. Water has been cut off from the city for days, many of the roads leading to it are closed, and the Internet and telephone are not available except in a few scattered places. In recent days, Hurricane Helen has affected many American cities, but in Asheville it has halted unprecedented economic and social growth, in a state that is not quite as dynamic as North Carolina.

In the city, Helen destroyed or damaged most of the buildings in the River Arts District, a neighborhood east of the French Broad River that has become very popular in recent years thanks to the opening of numerous bars, restaurants and art galleries. “What can we try to save? “There's nothing left.” He said the Wall Street Journal Erin Stefanacci, whose yoga studio was flooded with rain and mud. He and his partner, Megan Parker, tried to move the furniture and equipment to the second floor to limit the damage, but the water still reached the ceiling.

Asheville has a population of just under 100,000 and is located in the Blue Ridge region, an extension of the Appalachian Mountain Range that extends into the eastern part of the United States. In the past, the city had already faced a major flood: in 1916 storms caused rivers to overflow and flood streets and buildings, in what is still remembered today as “The Great Flood” (“The great flood»).

But in the following years, the city grew and changed a lot. Since the 1980s it has attracted Artists and business peoplealso interested in taking advantage of the significantly lower cost of living compared to many other US cities. Numerous breweries (there are 42, according to the latest data) and upscale restaurants have opened. The city is beginning to grapple with the effects of gentrification, the phenomenon in which the arrival of the wealthy transforms cities by raising prices and indirectly forcing less affluent residents to move elsewhere.

Beyond economic reasons, many people, especially in recent years, have also moved to Asheville to get away from areas prone to frequent natural disasters favored by climate change, such as California, where very large fires often break out.

Storm Helen changed everything, and brought a lot To re-evaluate The feeling of security was strengthening among the population. “I always thought we were safe in this area [dai danni del] “Climate change,” he said. New York Times Erica Scott, a photographer who lived in California for a long time, moved to Asheville 16 years ago. “Now I wonder if there's anywhere safe.”

Storm Helen killed at least 40 people in Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, and local authorities are asking everyone not to move towards the city, in order to leave the roads as clear as possible for emergency vehicles to pass. Restoring running water It could be It takes weeks, and in the meantime emergency centers have been opened at various points to distribute water and food. Many people have told newspapers that they do not have flood insurance, or at least have documents that would not be sufficient to cover all expenses.

Damage from Storm Helen in Asheville (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

According to experts, the western region of North Carolina He suffered such great damage Because Storm Helen there encountered cold air currents typical of the Appalachian chain, which made the rains more intense. The storm is still causing damage Also in other fields Southeastern United States: Florida was hit with winds reaching 225 kilometers per hour, destroying some homes near Tampa. More than one and a half million people remained without power between Georgia and South Carolina, where many trees fell, downing lines.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday Should visit North Carolina to see the hardest-hit areas. About 3,500 federal employees It has been sent In the affected areas to assist in relief operations, the government has approved states of emergency in several states, an official step that facilitates the provision of additional funds and resources.