HURRICANE HELENE FAQs

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COMMUNITY:

 

Did Wrong Way sustain damage from Hurricane Helene?

The French Broad River reached catastrophic levels during Helene, peaking at a record-breaking 24.6 feet (for context, flood stage is 9.5 feet). Wrong Way sustained flood damage in several cabins as well as the lower floor of the River Lodge, but we already have restoration crews on site and will make a full recovery. We are heartbroken for many of our neighbors and friends in the river corridor and throughout the WNC region, but we feel confident in our community’s resilience and determination to rebuild.

 

What remediation steps are being taken?

As soon as access to the property was possible, the Wrong Way team started to assess what remediation work would be required for the cabins that were damaged during the flood. We successfully peeled back the layers so they could be safely cleaned, dried, and put back together. We are so fortunate to have Griffin Builders heading up the remediation and restoration work since they were our trusted general contractor on building Wrong Way 2 years ago.

For those of you wondering about the remediation timeline: We started remediation work in the impacted cabins within 48 hours of the flood waters receding. First, we removed anything non-structural that was touched by flood waters, including drywall, flooring, furniture, fixtures, and equipment (e.g. record players). The cabin interiors were essentially emptied and reduced down to the studs. We then had SERVPRO perform professional cleaning, disinfection and dehumidification with commercial HEPA filters, fans, and dehumidifiers until a moisture meter confirmed that normal levels were reached. All structural surfaces, including the subfloor and wall studs, were then encapsulated with a commercial primer to prevent any future moisture issues. This level of remediation was a significant investment, but we knew it was critical to keep the confidence and expectation of future guests for a healthy and comfortable environment.

 

How can I help?

We recommend supporting local relief organizations like BeLoved Asheville, Equal Plates, and Manna Foodbank that are feeding people and providing supplies. We also partner with local nonprofits like Mountain True, RiverLink, and Asheville Greenworks and recommend you follow their accounts or join their newsletters for recovery updates and opportunities to help the impacted areas.

 

What community members should I follow to stay up to date on Asheville’s progress?

We recommend following Blue Ridge Public Radio’s live blog, BeLoved Asheville (@belovedasheville), Explore Asheville (@visitasheville), French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson (@fbriverkeeper), and our friends at @authenticasheville for updates and trusted resources. And of course you can get updates about Wrong Way by joining our Newsletter at the bottom of this page, or by following our Instagram or Facebook pages.

 

What is Asheville and the surrounding area like right now?

Most importantly, search and rescue missions are still ongoing and we are heartbroken over the death toll and number of people still missing in the impacted areas. While our downtown, lodging, and much of our hospitality infrastructure fared well, many popular destinations, including the nearby River Arts District, sustained catastrophic flood damage. Many areas are also still without power and water service, and the early stages of recovery are ongoing in parts of our beloved community. The Asheville Regional Airport is open and operating, and critical highways like I-40 and I-26 are now accessible, making it easier to mobilize support. Right now, the city’s focus is on taking care of our residents and workers and servicing the many first responders who have answered the call from all over the country—helping those impacted and addressing the economic and emotional toll at hand.

 

Is there a way to support your staff during this uncertain time?

Yes, we’ve created a fundraiser that will be used to directly support our employees. It’s available HERE.

 

Are there other ways I can support Wrong Way during recovery?

We prefer that your immediate support go to heavily impacted WNC individuals/communities and Wrong Way staff, but other ways to support Wrong Way include:

1. Book your 2025 stay at Wrong Way, 
2. Purchase a gift voucher for a friend or family member for a 2025 stay at Wrong Way,
3. Spread the word that Wrong Way and Asheville will be back better than ever in 2025, and we'll NEED tourism to help with the economic recovery.

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RESERVATIONS:

 

I have a future booking. Should I cancel? Will I be charged?

While we are encouraging guests with future bookings to keep their reservation, any guest booked through October 31 has been contacted with options for adjusting or canceling. We are waiving cancellation fees at this time due to the extenuating circumstances. We will continue to assess the situation every week and make decisions on whether to cancel additional future bookings.

 

I have an event planned at Wrong Way. Who can I contact?

Group reservations and group events are a significant portion of our revenue as a small business. While we understand that all groups won’t be able to reschedule with us, we appreciate those who can. Please contact katie@wrongwaycampground.com to ask questions about how to best handle your group reservation.

 

When will you reopen your cabins and communal River Lodge?

We have already mobilized restoration crews and hope to reopen the communal River Lodge to the public as soon as water service has been restored, especially for locals who need a community space. We also hope to welcome guests back once water service is restored and the Asheville infrastructure can accommodate visitors again. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow our social media channels for updates.

 

Are you accepting future bookings?

Yes! While we are not currently receiving guests while we make repairs and wait for water service, we are encouraging people to make bookings for 2025. This disaster will have a significant economic impact on local businesses and residents, especially considering that it happened at the beginning of peak fall tourism season. Travelers to Asheville and guests of Wrong Way will be critical to our community’s and company’s economic recovery.

 

I’d like to cancel my booking, but is there a way to donate my deposit to relief efforts?

This question surprised us, and we are so grateful. If you would like to contribute to Wrong Way’s recovery efforts, we can cancel your booking and donate your deposit towards efforts to restore the property and support our staff during this challenging time. Please indicate that you'd like to donate your deposit when requesting the cancellation.

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PRESS:

 

I’m a journalist covering the impacts of Hurricane Helene. Who can I talk to?

Please reach out to our PR lead, Kelsey Burrow (kelsey@dearclivepr.com or 910-986-1121) for a quick response.