North Carolina town still without clean running water months after Helene
Months after devastating floods caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene, Chimney Rock, North Carolina, is still struggling. As tourists return to nearby towns, locals say their recovery has been slower. Janet Shamlian reports.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Photos: Couple returns to Biltmore for dream wedding after Helene squashed original plans
Eight months after Hurricane Helene interrupted one couple's wedding plans at the Biltmore Estate, the lovebirds returned to the historic site to finally have the wedding of their dreams. On May 31, Jansen and Travis returned to the estate to have the dream wedding they originally planned to have before Helene. Photos from the ceremony show the couple standing under an arch of light peach and lavender blooms, surrounded by their wedding party and guests on the front lawn of the Biltmore Estate. A member of the Biltmore team, who became ordained on the day of the storm to officiate Jansen and Travis's impromptu wedding, officiated their dream wedding, as well. "It's a powerful reminder that love, backed by community and perseverance, always finds its moment," Biltmore officials said in a statement. "Biltmore and the Asheville area are open, resilient, and welcoming travelers and destination weddings after Tropical Storm Helene." Jansen and Travis Putnam were preparing for their wedding ceremony at the Biltmore last fall when Helene wreaked unimaginable damage around the Asheville destination and throughout western North Carolina, forcing those inside the Biltmore to shelter in place. Couple Gets Impromptu Biltmore Wedding Amid Helene As Stranded Guests Save The Ceremony The couple were faced with the possibility of having to cancel their wedding. However, within a matter of hours, the hotel staff and guests organized a small, impromptu ceremony for the bride and groom, allowing them to tie the knot. When Helene struck, it dropped nearly 30 inches of rain – or about four months' worth – in only three days in parts of western North Carolina. The storm caused deadly floods and mudslides that completely reshaped, or in some cases, destroyed some towns. How To Watch Fox Weather Damage caused by Helene around the Biltmore Estate forced the historic site to temporarily shut down. It then reopened on Nov. 2, in time for their annual event "Christmas at the Biltmore." The story of the Biltmore Estate goes back to 1888, when George Vanderbilt visited Asheville for the first time and began buying land for what would become his new country home. According to Biltmore officials, Vanderbilt chose the area because he was captivated by the beauty of the Blue Ridge article source: Photos: Couple returns to Biltmore for dream wedding after Helene squashed original plans
Axios
3 hours ago
- Axios
Carolina Wedding Confessionals: Hurricane Helene changed everything except the "I do's"
Last September, Charlotteans Lauren and Stephen Dye set out for an adventurous elopement in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. But a catastrophic hurricane changed nearly all of their plans. Context: This is the latest edition of Carolina Wedding Confessionals, where we highlight the stories (and breakdown the budgets) behind weddings in the Carolinas. Catch up quick: Lauren and Stephen, who had their first date at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery in 2020, got engaged in August 2024. Originally, they planned an intimate elopement weekend in Brevard, N.C., filled with outdoor excursions and celebrations with family. Instead, the couple had to pivot their timeline three times in 48 hours, ultimately getting married on the patio of their Airbnb as Hurricane Helene loomed. The original timeline A week out from their ceremony, set for Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, Lauren says the weather wasn't looking great. "Nothing could have prepared us for the devastation that would occur," she adds. The big day was supposed to begin with a sunrise hike, followed by a ceremony on the Blue Ridge Parkway and lunch at the Pisgah Inn. Their family, who planned to travel from Charlotte and Knoxville, Tennessee, would join them for dinner later that night. A series of pivots As the big day drew closer, the forecast became more grim. 48 hours ahead of the big day, they decided to move the ceremony timing earlier, and if possible, have their hike and photoshoot afterward. As they drove to Brevard, plans for the hike and a Blue Ridge ceremony were dropped altogether — a decision that was partially made for them as the section of the parkway had already closed. Plan B turned to Plan C. They would get married at the Airbnb and have lunch at nearby Brevard Brewing. Reality check: On the day, it was clear that the weekend they had imagined was no longer happening. The Biltmore House, which the two planned to visit, emailed to say they would be closed for the weekend. The restaurant where they planned to have dinner also canceled their reservation. "At this point, we did not know what was going to happen next, but we were going with the flow to get married," Lauren says. The downpour stopped for just enough time for them to marry on the back patio of the Airbnb. "We even saw a famous Brevard white squirrel at the end of the ceremony," says Lauren. After a quick Champagne toast, cookies and lunch, the couple quickly drove home to Charlotte. Stephen's parents, who stayed in their hotel, were stuck in Brevard for a few days until they could safely drive back to Knoxville. One day later, Helene struck western North Carolina as a tropical storm, leaving behind widespread devastation that the region is still recovering from. A full-circle reception This past March, roughly six months after their elopement weekend, Lauren and Stephen hosted a reception with friends and family at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — the spot of their first date. Because their elopement was limited to immediate family, the two threw a much larger reception with around 80 guests. "It felt like a full-circle moment," Lauren says. The budget breakdown Lauren and Stephen were just under their $15,000 budget. Here's the financial breakdown, combining both the ceremony and reception. Venue (Airbnb): $500 Bridal dress and accessories: $500 The dress was $85 from Lulu's, and the alterations were the bulk of the cost. Groom's outfit: $250 Lauren rewore her wedding dress and Stephen donned the same suit at the reception. Wedding hair and makeup: $750 Lauren says this was a splurge. Elopement accessories: $80 A ring box, Champagne and custom coffee mugs. Officiant: $0 Stephen's great-uncle married them. Florals: $190 Fake flowers were reused at the reception. Elopement lunch: $0 Covered by family. Custom cookies: $450 Instead of a wedding cake, they ordered custom sugar cookies from Mayhem Confections in Rock Hill. Photographer: $3,950 Asheville-based wedding photographers Wilder Wedding Co. took photos for both the elopement and reception. Reception venue and food/beverages (OMB): $6,600. Appetizers, a buffet dinner and an open bar for roughly 80 guests. Reception hair and makeup: $225 Reception DJ: $0 Covered by family. Reception decor: $250 Lauren spent approximately $500 on decor but says she has recouped about half of the cost from selling most of the items. Total cost: $13,745. The takeaways I chatted with Lauren about what she learned from the experience and what advice she has for other brides planning adventurous elopements or outdoor ceremonies. Editor's note: Answers have been lightly edited for brevity. Work with vendors who know how to pivot. " Our photographer specializes in outdoor elopements and helped us rearrange our plans. She had already photographed several couples who moved their ceremony to an Airbnb due to weather." Don't be afraid to ask for help. "We reached out to Brevard Brewing at 9pm asking if they could host us for lunch the next day. ... The owner, Kyle, was beyond welcoming and even offered to open early for us." Weddings come with a lot of opinions. Remember, it's your big day. "I always tell people to do what you want to do. Your family will have a blast just getting to celebrate with you." What's next: Lauren says she and Stephen are planning to return to Brevard for their anniversary this year. And this time, they're planning to stay the whole weekend.
Axios
9 hours ago
- Axios
St. Pete's coffee scene gets a boost as Grove Surf reopens, new pop-up debuts
St. Pete's coffee scene is buzzing again, with new spots pouring in and old favorites returning. Here are some of the latest openings. State of sip: Grove Surf and Coffee reopens Tuesday, almost nine months after Hurricane Helene flooded its St. Pete Beach storefront and right on time to celebrate its fifth anniversary.
