ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Biltmore Village was one of the areas in Asheville hit hardest by Hurricane Helene. Floodwaters rose to the roofs of homes in the historic community as dumpsters, propane tanks and power lines floated in the muck.
Days later, as Asheville licks its wounds and reopens little by little, there is no end in sight for the work at Biltmore Village.
At each of the entrances to the area, police vehicles have been stationed day and night to keep people out of potential danger.
The primary barricades are located at the Biltmore Village entrances at Sweeten Creek Rd., Hendersonville Rd., Biltmore Ave., McDowell St. Other checkpoints have been placed on smaller streets in the area.
The barricades and flashing blue nights are as present at midnight as they are in broad daylight.
It is not only police officers who are working these blockades, either.
“We’re trying to get out as much mud as possible so they can start trying to get repairs,” said a security officer aiding with the disaster relief.
The man wished to remain anonymous but told this reporter he and his crew were from several hours out of town.
That anonymity extended to workers inside the job site.
Just inside the Sweeten Creek Rd. barrier, a cleanup crew in neon green vests and hard hats worked to shovel mud out of a decimated storefront.
When asked for comment, the workers told me they were instructed not to answer questions at this time.
It was a beehive of work in Biltmore Village. The cleanup crews and security officers were joined by roving police vehicles below, utility men on power lines above and still further up, a drone operator took photos of the damage from the sky.
Though this team is working hard, it is impossible to say exactly when Biltmore Village will be ready to reopen.
