Asheville and the surrounding mountains: what Helene did, county by county

Buncombe County

NHC's Helene report counts at least 36 deaths in Buncombe from flash flooding, river flooding and landslides, including 15 people killed by landslides in the Fairview area and at least 9 who drowned in the Swannanoa River in Swannanoa and Black Mountain. Two river readings show the scale:

The same report says low-lying buildings in Biltmore Village were severely inundated or swept away, the River Arts District was largely destroyed, at least 300 landslides occurred in the county, and Asheville did not have clean water again until November 18, 53 days after the storm. Citing media reports, it counts more than 560 structures destroyed, at least 901 with major damage and 8,920 more with minor or moderate damage. NOAA's wind entry for Buncombe carries a separate $35 million damage estimate for trees and power lines brought down across the county.

Henderson County

More than 20 inches of rain fell on parts of Henderson County, per NHC. The Rocky Broad River and Reedy Patch Creek swept homes away, Mud Creek and Bat Fork flooded businesses around Hendersonville, and eight people died, five from flooding in Hendersonville and three in landslides near Bat Cave. County officials and media put the toll at roughly 300 homes and buildings destroyed and about 1,400 with major damage, with at least 86 landslides documented. NOAA's Bat Cave flash flood entry carries a $200 million estimate.

Haywood County

West of Asheville, the East Fork of the Pigeon River tore through Cruso, and NHC reports record flooding on the Pigeon from Canton and Clyde to the Tennessee line, about 600 homes affected and a stretch of Interstate 40 destroyed. For Haywood it was a repeat. NOAA's entry calls it catastrophic flooding in the Pigeon River watershed for the second time in just over three years; the first came in August 2021, when 6 to 8 inches fell in a few hours on the northern slopes of the Balsams. FEMA's declaration for the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred that month, DR-4617, covers Buncombe, Haywood, Watauga and Yancey.

Yancey County

Yancey holds the storm's rainfall peak: 30.78 inches at Busick and 26.65 inches near Celo, according to NHC. The report counts more than 200 landslides, about 1,400 homes and buildings destroyed and 2,300 severely damaged, and ten direct deaths, eight of them from flooding. NOAA's wind entry adds that gusts reached 80 mph often and 100 mph on exposed ridgetops, with hundreds of trees on homes, vehicles and power lines.

All four counties fall under FEMA's DR-4827 declaration for North Carolina, along with McDowell, Rutherford and Watauga.

Who licenses the roofer here

• The state license. A license from the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors is mandatory once a project is valued at $40,000 or more, and roofing is the board's specialty classification S(Roofing). Put Asheville, Hendersonville or Waynesville in the city field of its search portal to see who holds one locally.
• The state's fraud warning. In an April 2025 release on Helene rebuilding, the NC Department of Justice told homeowners to get multiple estimates, research the business and its owner, get the contract in writing and never pay the full amount up front.
• Local builders groups. The Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains keeps a member directory and a page of Helene recovery resources. In Haywood, the Smoky Mountain HBA offers a directory search for building professionals, and around Boone the High Country HBA publishes its own directory.

The full checklist for claims, contracts and scams is in the Helene roof recovery guide. The directory lists roofers in Asheville and Hendersonville, and its roof decking replacement cost page for Asheville is useful when water has reached the sheathing.

Frequently asked questions

How high did the French Broad River get in Asheville during Helene?

It crested at 24.8 feet, above the 23.1-foot record from 1916, according to the National Hurricane Center. The Swannanoa River at Biltmore reached 27.33 feet against a previous record of 20.7 feet.

How many landslides hit Buncombe County?

NHC's report says at least 300 landslides occurred in Buncombe County, and that landslides killed 15 people in the Fairview area.

Do I need a licensed contractor to rebuild my roof near Asheville?

For a project valued at $40,000 or more, yes: North Carolina law requires a license from the state licensing board. Check it on the board's search portal before signing.