Thanks to the incredible efforts of emergency responders, utility workers, and volunteers, key infrastructure has been restored, and many businesses are reopening their doors. NCOA will be opening our Toe River tours in Mid may, a month later than normal but this gave us more time to prepare for a smoother and safer post Helene opening.
Visiting a recovering disaster area can be a striking experience, marked by a mix of destruction, rebuilding, and resilience. What you see depends on the stage of recovery, the type of disaster, and the local response efforts. While some areas may still be undergoing repairs, we encourage everyone to return and support local businesses. Our beautiful rural mountain towns are heavily dependent on tourism! We need you to come back!
Hurricane Helene hit 9/27/2024. This is a general idea of what to expect when visiting our more than a 1/2 year later:
Please keep this in mind: all of us locals now know to give a minimum of 30 extra minutes to get to appointments or work on time in town. We ask our traveling guests to please do the same — plan to arrive early with time to spare, as certain roads may be closed or have detours.
Mixed Emotions: People in the area might still be coping with loss, but you’ll also see determination, solidarity, resilience and ongoing efforts to rebuild.
Local Businesses Reopening: Some shops and markets have reopened, while others remain closed or are operating under makeshift conditions. Small businesses that could reopen need your support to remain open. We will welcome you back with big ol’ smiles and gratitude.
While most of our area’s main infrastructure has been repaired, some roads and bridges are still being worked on. Check for road closures and detours in our area before traveling.
4. Safety and Accessibility
We have a lot of open rivers, trails and waterfalls to explore, but some areas remain closed due to infrastructure and tree damage. We’re also documenting our progress and sharing new videos of our tours on our YouTube channel — check here to see what’s newly open.
Conditions are constantly changing as rebuilding continues. Before you travel, check local websites for closures to Mitchell and Yancey County areas like the Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests.
Here are some useful websites for storm recovery updates, closures and more:
- Alerts and Notices: (U.S. Forest Service)
- Blue Ridge Parkway Blue Ridge Parkway (U.S. National Park Service)
- Pisgah National Forest: National Forests in North Carolina | Alerts | Forest Service
NOTE: NCOA’s main goal is to keep our guests safe! We’ve worked very hard to mitigate hazards affecting our Toe River paddle trips. While we do this prior to every river season, it is important to note we can’t eliminate all risks in a wilderness setting. We have removed and marked hazardous debris and improved river access were possible.
We’re also working with local nonprofits to test the river’s health for recreation. The water has been tested twice since the hurricane — in October and again in April — and found safe for recreation. Testing is ongoing to help keep river lovers informed and safe.
