As Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on North Carolina, it left devastating impacts on the hospitality and tourism industry, particularly in Asheville. In response to the destruction, North Carolina is stepping up recovery efforts with an additional $15.5 million in funding, ensuring continued support for those who have lost everything in the storm. But while aid is on the way, the damage has been so severe that many affected residents are now seeking refuge in other cities, with Charlotte emerging as a key destination for those looking to rebuild their lives.
One of the many who lost everything in the storm was Julio Montero, who had been living in Asheville for nearly a year, selling specialty produce at local farmers’ markets. When Hurricane Helene hit, Montero’s life was upended when a neighbor’s house was sent crashing into his, tearing his home from its foundation. “Our house was hit by his house, which kind of shook it off the foundation, and then all the roads to the house were taken out. It became a river,” Montero recalled, describing the devastation that swept through his community.
In the wake of this destruction, Montero, like many others in the region, made the difficult decision to leave Asheville for good and relocate to Charlotte. “It’s so unknown what the future of Asheville is going forward that we made the decision right away to move here,” he explained. The uncertainty surrounding the future of Asheville, coupled with the sheer scale of the damage, prompted him to seek a fresh start in Charlotte, where he hopes to rebuild his life and his business, Omg Alchemy.
Montero’s story is far from unique. Across the Asheville area, residents and business owners are grappling with the aftermath of the storm, with many choosing to leave the region in search of new opportunities. The once-thriving hospitality and tourism industries in Asheville have been hit hard, forcing many to seek jobs in cities like Charlotte, where the job market remains stronger and more stable.
Stefan Huebner, owner of the Charlotte speakeasy Dot Dot Dot, has seen firsthand the growing influx of Asheville workers looking for new opportunities in the Queen City. Huebner, who has been actively involved in organizing fundraising efforts for those affected by the storm, has also been working to connect displaced workers with local employers. “We are already starting to see some of the Asheville, Western NC hospitality folks looking for jobs in Charlotte,” he said. “That’s why we’re all kind of banding together. We’re doing our best to help them. We know they would help us.”
Huebner’s efforts to create a support network for the displaced workers are already bearing fruit. Many local businesses in Charlotte, including Marysue Boyle’s Beau Monde, which operates four event spaces across the city, have stepped up to offer jobs to Asheville transplants. “We’re grateful that we’re in a position to be able to provide work and also grateful that we have people who want to come work,” Boyle shared. “We have a few people who we’ve been working with who come for both the immediate and longer-term roles.”
Boyle’s perspective highlights the spirit of resilience and community that has emerged in Charlotte. While businesses in the city have opened their doors to workers displaced by the storm, many others in Asheville are facing an uncertain future. “They have no work, their venues or hotels have been revamped from a hotel they’re now housing people who have no homes, or their venue is underwater, and they’ve been told it will be years before it’s even restored and available to use again, which is devastating,” Boyle said, reflecting on the immense challenges faced by businesses and workers in Asheville.
For Montero, the transition to Charlotte has been a bittersweet one. While he is grateful to be starting anew, he can’t help but feel the weight of what was lost. “I remember walking up to the house, and we just wanted to get back to see what happened to the property, and we were hopeful that we could stay living there, but as soon as we got there, we were shell-shocked at what happened,” he said. Despite the emotional toll, Montero is optimistic about the future. “We were lucky, to be honest with you, compared to a lot of people. People on our mountain passed away.”
The loss of life and livelihoods in the wake of Hurricane Helene is still being felt across the region. But amid the devastation, there are signs of hope as displaced workers find new opportunities in Charlotte and other cities. The response to the storm from both local organizations and state officials has been swift, with the recent allocation of an additional $15.5 million to the recovery efforts ensuring that the rebuilding process can continue in the coming months.
The funds, which are part of the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, will be distributed through the United Way of North Carolina, which has been working closely with local communities to provide immediate aid. The influx of funding will help families and businesses like Montero’s who have been affected by the storm and are looking to rebuild their lives from scratch.
In addition to the financial assistance, the support provided by local businesses and individuals in Charlotte has been crucial for those making the difficult transition from Asheville. The sense of solidarity and willingness to help has been heartening for many who are facing the daunting task of starting over in an unfamiliar city.
As the recovery efforts continue, the hope is that the affected regions of North Carolina, particularly Asheville, will eventually recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. But for now, many are finding solace in the support provided by local communities, both in Charlotte and beyond. The $15.5 million in additional recovery funds is a vital step in the rebuilding process, offering hope to those whose lives were upended by the storm.
For Montero, the future remains uncertain, but he is determined to make a fresh start in Charlotte. “Now that a little bit of time has passed and the dust has settled, we decided that it’s better for us to just stay here and try to build our life again here,” he said, reflecting on his decision to relocate. Though his life was forever changed by the storm, Montero remains hopeful for what lies ahead, knowing that with time and community support, he can rebuild his business and his life from the ground up.
As North Carolina continues to recover from one of the most devastating hurricanes in recent memory, the story of Montero and others like him serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of the people of North Carolina. Through the support of local communities and the allocation of much-needed recovery funds, there is hope that Asheville and the surrounding areas will one day return to the thriving, vibrant communities they once were.
