Asheville a Month After Hurricane Helene - Town Still Devastated - Biltmore and River Arts District

[@jenna9531]

Thank you so much for covering this, I live here and it has been so heartbreaking in so many ways, we are grateful to be alive and with no home damage, but my heart breaks for our city, and our community, thank you for caring for us, and remembering us. You're an amazing man.

[@hu8g9gv]

Go donate help a neighbor give some1 a bed to sleep in

[@conciousking35]

Thanks for the video! That is my work van @ 5:00 for seven years off and on for Leading Green Distribution. We delivered refrigerated goods for local companies like Hickory Nut Gap, Buchi, Mountain Foods and many others. We lost an entire fleet including an Isuzu box truck that ended up a mile past this van and landed in the Biltmore Estate property. We were a small company of 5 full time and 1 part timer. Though small we worked hard to provide a needed service to our community for over 15 years. We have just recently opened a go fund me if any one has it in their hearts to support us and our families get through until we can all find stable jobs again. Would be much appreciated. Thanks again for the new coverage I can't believe they haven't gotten the van out of the river yet. We have no idea why. Go Fund Me - Leading Green Distribution.

[@TheCarpetbagger]

I’m so sorry!

[@ncavlleguy]

Thank you for covering this Our beautiful city will be back soon I hope .

[@johnchambers8528]

Thanks for your views of the destruction and thoughtful commentary. Please fellow You Tubers try and make contributions to well known vetted charitable organizations. The residents of this area will need aid for a reasonably long time and as time goes on less coverage will be given to these residents. Also remember that there also was major damage in Florida. Regardless of who is in charge of the government they all will need our help as well as what the government can do. I have given a contribution and plan to give more, please help if you can.

[@SilverWolfAdventures]

Thank you for the update, and helping to promote the return of tourism to the area. I took my family to visit the Oconaluftee Indian Village a few weeks ago, and they stressed that they were thankful that we made the effort to visit them since the area relies a lot on visitors and tourists.

[@laurag-oe9xo]

These videos are a good reminder to: be grateful, be prepared, and help each other. Thank you.

[@MariaCallahan-s5o]

I was born there now i Live in Lexington NC but Asheville is home in my Heart in hard to see what has happened . love watching you thank you for showing home..i moved away 79 i visit sometime and i have a Family there.

[@mareekatz]

Thanks Jacob ❤️ for sharing your community. God bless all affected 🙏

[@anyoldvideos]

Never thought the smoky mountains would go through something like this

[@TheDragonina]

I live here, Wish I could've met you. Thank you for showing how much damage we got.

[@mariebeasley1269]

😢 my heart is so heavy. Here in Pa we did several donations a d brought down needs and water. They are still in my prayers 🙏

[@Jeffery-v6i]

So heartbreaking to see the devastation. Please come back every month to give us an update t o keep people from forgetting about what is actually like in a devastated area. I have no idea how those Artists will recover, but I hope Ashville as a city can find a way to keep that spirit and acceptance of all artists going forward.

[@alliekuma4234]

Thank you for the update. My heart goes out to everyone struggling from this. ❤

[@goobert5485]

Thanks for covering this, your dedication to traveling and showing the damage from Helene, there’s not too many traveling youtubers who are still doing this, your work is incredibly important to many people

[@shortythenut1]

Thank you for the update. You have said it all so well, people tend to forget once the media is gone.

[@toystorylover5257]

Thank you for showing Asheville and showing us what’s open and what’s not! The River Arts District looks post-apocalyptic almost! That’s crazy! I hope they recover! My heart goes out to them! Jacob, I think God was protecting you and Jenn and your house during this storm! I’m glad ya’ll are okay! Well, thanks for sharing! Have a great day!

[@nikitatro5508]

Thank You for giving this update and keeping Western North Carolina in our minds 🙏💜♾️

[@richblinn4534]

I was literally there about 2 weeks ago helping out. You mentioned how eerily quiet it was.. The sound of generators and water pumps running was all I heard. So sad.

[@icychill105]

With all the election madness the hurricane had slipped my mind, hope people are able to be back together and rebuild their lives

[@kennethiman2691]

Wonderful update. Such a sad situation.

[@mgehrum]

Great job Jacob ! Thank you for showing us the update on the current devastation of your town. Kudos !

[@sandywilcher7258]

Thank you for sharing and keeping everybody updated; coming from Virginia. Please continue to keep us updated as we need to see what's going on. Thank you.

[@mikehughes4969]

As I understand it, there are still people without power, and will be for quite some time. Disgraceful and sad. God bless these people.

[@zenabeme22]

I have family in Chimney Rock and Asheville. Seeing it in person is one of the hardest things you will ever see. Jacob is right they need your tourism and I promise you Chimney Rock will rebuild. Asheville and Chimney Rock have some of strongest people in their community. A big thank you to all Volunteers that helped my Family out of their house when water came. My church is still sending resources and help from Georgia. Will be coming down Sunday.❤

[@cindyhenning7832]

Thank you Jacob for showing us what it looks like now! I watched your first video after the hurricane. They have a long way to go to get this looking back where it feels cleaned up! So sad

[@greghofer4739]

Thank you from canada for.some real.footage of the devastating hurricane i hope they all can rebuild and be safe God bless you all

[@pattieb8214]

This is another compassionate and thorough look at the devastation of this area. We live about 50 miles from Asheville where several homes were washed away as well as deaths. It is difficult to see, but I am so thankful you have chosen to focus on this tragedy. I hope others will follow your example so that western North Carolina will not be forgotten. Thank you.

[@lisafreeman4222]

Thank s for the update they will come back bigger and better

[@rickybyrd1426]

Drives home the point that it may have faded from the mainstream media, but it is still there and it will be for a long time. How I wish it wasn't so. I was in Asheville 2 years ago, and I never would have imagined that this could happen.

[@nadiaborzacchini1987]

Thanks for showing us the hippodrome is sad I'll be praying 4 everyone 🙏🏽

[@brucewayne33497]

Oh yeah and seeing all the businesses that are shut down and knowing alot of them are never going to open back up again that reminds me of back during the pandemic days where alot of businesses had to shut down and unfortunately alot of those businesses never opened back up and it's really sad to think about because all those businesses were people's livelihoods and some businesses families made memories at

[@fossilsue]

My cousin, also from Canada, is a pastor in PlumTree Creek, NC. They were hit very hard in their area and were one of the only churches not flooded inside. They have been set up as a rescue center and still are.

[@sabrina5263]

I live near Plumtree very good ppl love what they doing for the community

[@Offroadviking]

Really appreciate these videos you have been doing. Heading out to Asheville today and this helps with knowing what's accessible and what's not. Keep up the great work, love all the travel stuff as well 👍

[@Retromicky82]

Thanks for sharing this it's obvious that the media and government has moved on yet the area still needs help even if it's a push for tourists . Sadly many businesses have been lost and will hit the area hard I presume

[@bloozedaddy]

Thanks for the vid. Myself and my gf were in Asheville in the Riceville area all of September so we got to experience the destruction. We've been to places like White Duck Taco so I agree it's a bit surreal to see them devastated from what on a normal day seems like a babbling stream.

[@robylove9190]

Thanks for keeping this area on the minds and hearts of people, Jacob. The novelty has worn off for the news crews so it's too easy for people to forget.

[@michca318]

It's good to refresh everyone elses memory. When the devastation surrounds you, it's crazy! I went through Hurricane Andrew! To just see it on TV, no one but the people in the area have a clue to how bad it really is! Glad to see that they are cleaning up!

[@heartjoy]

This needs to be national news. They didn't even get much attention when it happened and it is still awful. I feel so bad for the area.

[@shutterflyboy85]

There are no words and to see it in person especially to your own property or business is tragic and life altering. People do have short attention spans. Look how we've all forgotten about the devastating 2016 Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge fires. Look up Colorado's Big Thompson Flood of 1976. Yet another freak weather tragedy. Please go back on occasion. For the residents it must feel like an eternity.

[@atinwoodsman]

We may never see flooding like this again, in our lifetime.

[@davidB-qx5tr]

So many memories. My heart is broken. You did a great job with this - thank you.

[@history_leisure]

“All the trees are gone (All the trees are gone). But the sky is blue (The sky is Blue). Carolina Dreamin’ (Carolina Dreamin’)”

[@PsilentKnight19]

This is a great video. I love Asheville is gorgeous! I’ve visited Biltmore at least 6 times. I will definitely be going back this holiday season.

[@gGre617]

Thank you for bringing this footage to us Jacob ❤. My heart goes out to all! A similar situation happened in my Dads hometown of Wilkes-Barre, PA back 1972. The devastation was not as vast as what has happened in NC but heartbreaking just the same. Prayers 🙏 to all

[@matthewfarmer2520]

Morning Jacob 🤓 I'm glad I got to see u Livestream yesterday, that was awesome. Thanks for sharing this update on the hurricane Helene. Take care.

[@brucewayne33497]

Oh yeah speaking of the Hurricanes and Flooding a little warning to anybody here who might be needing or wanting to get a vehicle or a different vehicle be careful where you go and who you trust on selling vehicles because my dad and some family friends of ours said that other people will sell and try to sell vehicles that were caught in the floods

[@maryblaufuss7533]

Jot down the VIN number to look up before you buy anything!

[@mariehendrick7173]

So pleased to see this update.. It Is so heart warming to see all the small gestures of kindness. And to see the progress and the helpers....!!!!!! XXXX

[@sandrap6321]

Heading up to Biltmore in 2 weeks...will buy a yearly pass to give support & will visit as much I can. Will be sad to see in person, but Biltmore House has decorated for Christmas & Hope still endures.

[@meghanmcburger]

Thank you for this, Jacob. I've spent nearly every Sunday at that White Duck Taco location, and this is my first time seeing it up close after Helene. I have sooo many fond memories of celebrating both small and huge moments there and sharing tables and conversations with strangers when they were too packed, as lines were always out the door. All the picnic tables I've sat at and admired the river from were washed away, but the memories will always remain. Same goes with memories from the rest of the RAD, Biltmore Village, etc. It's awful. My heart is so heavy for folks who own businesses or work at these locations. So many people are still suffering with so much personal loss. I can't imagine a more trying and painful time, and I don't want to. AVL strong. ❤

[@SeñorMalc]

If you were there every Sunday you must live here. Why haven’t you seen the devastation yet?

[@meghanmcburger]

@signormalc Of course I've seen the devastation. It's just White Duck that I haven't seen up close. I've avoided the hardest hit areas to stay out of the way and allow for clean-up efforts (plus it's painful to see and dangerous without PPE), but I have seen some of it from afar while driving. There's plenty more damage like fallen trees, damaged power lines, tipped train cars, mud, etc. all over the rest of the area that I have seen up close, but not nearly as bad as areas that are closer to the river.

[@WakieUppieYall]

What a wonderful way of speaking you have. I just stumbled onto you. I was up there last Sunday and videoed River Arts, myself. I think they'll turn the whole RA area into high rise luxury condos, hotels, restaurants, retail, etc.. (More money in those things, than in artists.) Avoid charities, give to folks, themselves, is my tip on that part.

[@CCcastro336]

That was one scary hurricane. That’s going to take some time. So much damage. Thank you for showing us this. 😢

[@ScottFelton-qw4yx]

Jacob makes awesome videos.

[@mxmstrbl]

if you like 12 bones theres one on Hendersonville rd . by the railroad

[@yourhero33]

I figured everyone forgot about us already thank you for keeping us in mind

[@paulfuryes203]

Very good video, Jacob. Never underestimate Mother Nature. Till the next one, take care my and as always safe travels.

[@Commander_Sigma]

Makes me wonder if any of the employees and managers who worked at the businesses that were affected by the hurricane are getting compensation or relocation.

[@sandycason3756]

I don't think so. Pretty sad situation. I moved to Florida to get a better job.

[@user-iu3cy2tx3c]

Nope! If you’re lucky you get $300/week unemployment for 3 months. $750 fema per household - IF you’re lucky. Household includes a roommate. Neither I or my roommate are getting fema

[@Commander_Sigma]

@@user-iu3cy2tx3c That’s unfortunate, I’m sorry to hear that.

[@dianemitchell5142]

Thankyou so much for showing us what is going on.

[@angelic_pig]

Another great video ❤😊❤

[@ATLnkotb]

Have you been able to help volunteer with clean up? I'd seen recently they still need volunteers.

[@johnlloyd9374]

Keep rockin on buddy. Love your video updates. I haven't been able to get bk with my side by side. It's called leaf peeping season. I learned that up in NY

[@LinecookThorJamiethaxton]

Awesome video as always Jacob and God bless you guys sending prayers and love to you all

[@randiwilson3177]

Thank you for covering this. Been wondering how the cleanup was going. It's an area i been wanting to visit for a very long time. Hopefully i will sooner rather than later.

[@maddog6620]

You are awesome 😎

[@Stephanie-oy5wc]

God bless you.

[@mobelue]

Glad you mentioned not all WNC town out for the count. Swannanoa still hurting but receiving. Many back roads like 221 and 226 are repaired with some detours. Some of those roads have some delays as roads have been down to one lane with flagmen. But it’s doable. Debri is being dealt with. Cherokee and Dillsboro and Sylvia almost untouched. They are just fine. People in these areas need cleaning supplies. Clothes Pods. Bleach. Liquid dish soap.

[@jobos98]

Great Video J 😊

[@billay87]

Appreciate your work documenting this stuff Jacob. Heartbreaking on so many levels. God bless you and Jenn.

[@keithraker1122]

Great video! We live in the area, and have been into downtown Asheville several times since Helene. While areas along the river might be impacted, the city is NOT completely closed, and many businesses are open and making things work. Great advice to ask people to please come and visit - the businesses need it badly. Just know the temporary limitations. Also, many towns in the surrounding area - Waynesville, Canton, Sylva, Maggie Valley, Cherokee, Highlands/Cashiers, etc - were impacted as well, but also need business and are largely open. And although it looks devastating, the community is creative and resilient and will find ways to make the area stronger than ever!

[@MarthaJOHNSON-iu4wk]

Good morning Jacob

[@Stephanie-oy5wc]

Thanks for the stream.

[@Corgis175]

Totally heartbreaking. Will take years to rebuilt.

[@Dynacologist]

I just have no words for the destruction and devastation 💔🙏

[@lindabishop-surbeck2575]

I’m truly grateful for this video. I love Asheville and would love to go there but, it’s financially impossible. There was a weaving center there that sent emails out to guilds for donations. My spinning guild in Syracuse NY are donated to.

[@randygyulay5114]

You have provided a great service in covering the devastation in this historic area. Thank you.

[@caroleroseburgh1344]

Hi Jacob 🙋🏽.

[@Thekaydontplay]

Flooded in denham springs Louisiana and Baton Rouge areas when I lived back home in walker Louisiana. We’ve slowly seen the areas get worse with crime and things you don’t want in a city you send your kids to school.Sadly it’s just so expensive to recover and rebuild and it not being a tourist town I feel we have no hope

[@BrendaBlystone-u9x]

Hello carpetbagger it's always amazing watching you're amazing video keep up what yu because you do amazing video 😊

[@DebHoeft]

So sorry this is happening 😢 I'm thankful that Jen was good during this. I'm also thankful that you are covering this. Take care of yourself. Love you, you always make me smile

[@tylerdavis127]

Even without reading the title or seeing the thumbnail, you can always until it's going to be a somber Carpetbagger video when he starts with the quick "Hey, you all" instead of the "Hey......You......Alllllll".

[@larrybrinkley1851]

My home town

[@cherylsteele9511]

I was just in Asheville today

[@jaxlovescarmel]

gonna take years.... 😢

[@77shawnie]

Have you ever done a cruise adventure? If not would you ever want to? Love you and Jen btw 😊

[@maryblaufuss7533]

Check out the Mississippi River adventure. It's one of my favorite CB videos.

[@TheAnchorArmsChad]

Love that Bender Homer piece

[@history_leisure]

Would be nice to see the Arts district rebuild with some transit-oriented development in hopes that east-west passenger service remains on the docket

[@kingmo8789]

I hope for a speedy recovery

[@MarkRead-jp6ry]

Have you ever been to a haunted house in Plano, Texas called Dark Hour??

[@juanzapata492]

Little bit at a time

[@smooch6581]

A tour of the Biltmore would make an awesome video!!!

[@sandycason3756]

People have died and are trying to get back on their feet and you want an estate tour? Really?

[@my.southernentertainment]

Wouldn't you think that be the first thing they pull out of the water is the van there is gas oil and everything else leaking into the water😢 I was talking to a local and he was saying a lot of business don't want to come back and the city is trying what they can to get them back

[@bluecarrie]

It's so sad to see so much devastation in my home stste....the worst hurricane damage prior to Helene I think was Hurricane Floyd in 99. I left NC after that...not specifically because of the hurricane but it helped my decision to leave. I remember the tobacco bales floating down the river and all the dead hogs. This seems so much worse for such a unique area. I hope people are getting support to rebuild. I've never seen the Biltmore in person because the year I was supposed to go with school I ended up in a private school. I just can't imagine how devastating this is to the economy and individual business and people who no longer have jobs because of the devastation. I was lucky that my family was not impacted by this storm.

[@karentucker2161]

This is so sad that it is still devastated.❤

[@mgehrum]

Jacob, just a friendly reminder.. please don't buy gas from any gas station affected by the storm... there may be possible gas contamination... 😢

[@angelbulldog4934]

Don't be in the flood water, either. Many dead bodies have putrified it. People and animals are sick and/or dying because they were in it.

[@edithcunnagin]

I Googled most of the businesses you visited they say temporarily closed so must be returning. Thanks for going back and showing the progress

[@mobelue]

Christmas is a “glimmer of Hope” for and mankind, to all who believe in Jesus.

[@kathyl5433]

How did the district in and around Mission Hospital fair??

[@austinconstant7681]

There was so much water went under the foundations of most of the buildings, they're going to just start over. Easier to demo and rebuild than it is to repair

[@TheCarpetbagger]

That makes sense

[@Onoma314]

As a longtime asheville resident ( since 1994 ), I can tell you that the entire SE united states is going to be at increased risk of forest fires due to all the trees that came down across the area. It's across multiple states. Will probably have a ripple effect on property and home values

[@jasonmyers8278]

Live in Barnardsville, mountain town just outside Asheville. I feel like I live in a war zone. We have had the National Guard occupying the community center. People are sleeping in tents outside where their house used to be. Some have gotten RVs from the Government. Pink slips on all the houses that got flooded telling them not to go inside. Unsafe. Even if there houses didn't get washed away. Most of those people do not have flood insurance & are to poor to rebuild. Some areas look like Baghdad.

[@ncavlleguy]

GOD WILL PROVIDE FOR HIS CHILDREN HE NEVER LETS US DOWN✝️🙏

[@magicalstarz]

I know it isn't your usual content, but with the holidays upon us, if you know of locally owned, small retail or other businesses that you and Jen can showcase and give us the website or link to, I'd be interested in shopping and dropping some money and supporting them from afar. I'm sure others would as well. I knew they'd move fast and I'm happy to see that Biltmore is open too. I'll be shocked if they don't knock the Mcdonald's, Moe's, etc down. Too much structural damage.

[@sierrarichardson7077]

I’m a small business owner in Asheville, there are several sites that started up that are promoting small businesses that are able to ship! Love Asheville From Afar is one and Brands of WNC is another! I am on Brands of WNC, I own On Tour Candle Co. ☺️thank you for wanting to support small local businesses!